346 CARNIVORA. 



also frequents the shores of Northern America. From September to 

 March it is found in Davis' Straits, but leaves that locality for the purpose 

 of producing and rearing its young, and returns again in June, together 

 with its ofi'spring, in a very bare and poor condition. About July it 

 takes another excursion, and employs its time in recovering the health 

 md strength which it had lost during the period of its former absence, 

 so that in September it is very fat, and altogether in excellent con- 

 dition for the fisher who values it for its oil. 



The Crested Seal attains the size of ten to twelve feet when fully 

 grown, and then it is of a dark blue-black color on the back, fading away 

 to a yellowish-white below : a number of gray patches, each with a dark 

 spot, are scattered over the body ; the head, tail, and feet are black. It is 

 the lion of the Northern Seas, and shares with the walrus the empire of 

 the Pole. The onset of an enraged Crested Seal is much to be dreaded, 

 for the creature is marvellously fierce when its anger is roused, and its 

 strength is very considerable. The teeth, too, are formidably powerful, 

 and can inflict very dangerous wounds. In fighting, they can use their 

 claws as well as their teeth. The males are always pugnacious animals, 

 and during the season when they choose their mates are in the habit of 

 fighting desperately among each other for the possession of some 

 attractive female, and in these combats inflict severe lacerations. 

 During these conflicts the two combatants express their mutual rage 

 by emitting a torrent of loud, passionate, yelling screams, which are 

 audible at a considerable distance. Various speculations have been 

 made regarding the use of the crest, or rather, nasal bladder. It 

 probably is useful by protecting that very vulnerable spot, the nose. 



The West Indian Crested Seal, Cystophora Antillamm, has a gray- 

 brown color. In the Report of the U. S. Exploring Expedition to the 

 Antarctic Seas, Dr. Pickering states that he saw one a hundred and thirty- 

 'ive miles from land, swimming entirely by its pectoral fins. 



