332 CARNIVORA. 



The Australian Hair Seal, Zalophus lobatus, has very little under- 

 fur, and small toe-flaps. Its upper grinders are all single-rooted, and 

 the sixth molar is absent. 



We add to these species of Hair Seals one which is still waiting for 

 classification. The specimen on which Gray labored had no head, and 

 therefore he is unable to give us his usual charming details about molars 

 and zygomatic arches. 



The Cape Hair Seal, ArctoccpJialus ? nivosus, has very black, short 

 fur with small white spots. It differs from Arctocephalus Antarcticus in the 

 length of the hair, and by having no under-fur. 



V— GENUS EUMETOPIAS. 



The one species is found in Behring Straits and on the coast of Cali- 

 fornia. It has no under-fur, and the flap of the toes is very short. 



The Northern Sea Lion, Eianctopias Stdlcri, was called by Steller 

 himself Leo uiarinus. The jaw is much more elongated than in the Otaria 

 jubata. This is the Sea Lion of California. It reaches the enormous 

 size of fifteen feet, and weighs sixteen hundred pounds ; the eye is lai-ge 

 and expressive ; the limbs, which discharge the duties of legs, feet, and 

 fins, are covered with a rough, horn)' skin, while the rest of the body is 

 hidden in a short, hard, brilliant coat of hair. The males are of different 

 colors, the females are usually light brown, and only half as large as their 

 partners, while the lordly male has around its neck a heavy mass of stiff 

 curly hair, which gives it a lion-like look. During the autumn, great 

 numbers are found at Behring's Island, and in July it comes down the 

 American coast. The male confines himself to three or four females. 



They are very ferocious in aspect, but in disposition very peaceable or 

 even sluggish, and fall an easy prey to the hunter, great numbers being 

 slain by the natives by means of harpoons and poisoned arrows, when 

 they come ashore to breed. Their sojourn on shore lasts about four 

 months on the California coast, and a few years ago thousands of barrels 

 were annually filled with their oil. In consequence of the visible dimi- 

 nution of their numbers, at present only males are killed. South of 

 Santa Barbara, there rises a rocky ledge accessible on one side ; here, 

 when the sun goes down, fifty to a hundred males will congregate till 

 morning. If a boat approaches, they glide into the water, and wait 



