128 MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
at a distance, it is difficult to distinguish between a fully matured Fur Seal and a 
Sea Lion of ordinary size. The extreme length of the full-grown male Sea Lion 
of the north may be set down at sixteen feet from tip of nose to end of posterior 
flippers, and yield of oil at forty gallons ; but it is seldom they are found meas- 
uring twelve feet from tip of nose to tip of tail, and the individual yield of oil 
throughout the season would not exceed ten gallons. Its greatest circumference 
would not be over eight feet, and its weight about one thousand pounds. Its head 
and neck are more elongated, and the latter is destitute of the mane which is 
characteristic of the Lion of the southern seas. Its mouth is armed with strong, 
glistening, white teeth. Its projecting upper lip is furnished, on each side, with 
strong, flexible whiskers, which are generally of a white, or yellowish -white color, 
some of which grow to the length of eighteen inches. "When the animal is either 
excited by curiosity or anger, its eyes are full of expression ; and at such times 
they appear large, but when the creature is dozing, these members have quite the 
opposite appearance. Its ears are cylindrical at the root, tapering to a point, are 
covered with short, fine hair, and lie nearly in a line with the body. Its limbs, 
which are incased with a sort of thick shagreen, combine the triple functions of 
legs, feet, and fins, and are far better adapted to locomotion in the watery ele- 
ment ; where, when excited, its movements are swift and graceful, while on the 
land, the creature's imposing, though awkward traveling, requires great effort. Its 
body is covered with short, coarse, shining hair. The color of the adult males is 
much diversified ; individuals of the same rookery being quite black, with scatter- 
ing hairs tipped with dull white, while others are of a reddish brown, dull gray, or 
of light gray above, darker below. The adult female is not half the bulk of the 
male, and its color is a light brown. One of the average size, taken at Santa Bar- 
bara Island, coast of California, in the spring of 1871, measured six feet four 
inches from tip of nose to tip of posterior flippers, and weighed one hundred and 
eighty -two pounds. 
We submit the following measurements, etc. (in feet and inches), of a full- 
grown male Sea Lion (No. 1), taken at the Farallone Islands, July 17th, 1872 ; of 
an adult female Sea Lion (No. 2), taken at Santa Barbara Island, coast of Califor- 
nia, April 12th, 1871 ; and of a male Sea Lion (No. 3), about ten months old, 
taken at the last-named island, April 4th, 1872: 
No. 1. No. 2. No 3. 
Length of animal from tip of nose to tip of posterior flippers, 12 6 4 4 10 
Length of posterior flippers 2 2 1 1 11£ 
Breadth of posterior flippers ( expanded ) 9 8 
Round the body behind the pectorals 7 3 3 2 8 
