170 Zoological N. Y. Zoological Society. [I; 8 



Although handled but little, they are very amiable, only 

 opening the mouth when approached too closely by the photog- 

 rapher. In swimming about the pool the fore flippers are seldom 

 used. The animals often go to sleep under water, stretched out 

 on the floor of the pool. The eyes of the elephant seal are re- 

 markably large and lustrous. They are suggestive of the eyes 

 of nocturnal animals, and it may be that the species is more 

 active by night than by day. 



Distribution Since 1880. 



The number of elephant seals known to have been killed or 

 captured in Lower California from 1880 to 1911 is shown in the 

 following record : 



1880 San Cristobal Bay, Schooner San Diego 30 



1882 San Cristobal Bay, Schooner San Mateo 46 



1883 San Cristobal Bay, Schooner 110 



1883 Guadalupe Island, Schooner , Wentworth, Master 80 



1884 San Cristobal Bay, Sloop Liberty, Morrison, Master 93 



1884 San Cristobal Bay, Schooner San Diego _ _ 40 



1884 San Cristobal Bay, Schooner Laura, Morrison, Master (C. H. Town- 

 send in charge) 16 



1884 Guadalupe Island, Schooner San Diego 4 



1892 Guadalupe Island, Schooner Santa Barbara, Hunt, Master (C. H. 



Townsend in charge) _ 7 



1904 Guadalupe Island, Schooner , Mullett, Master 4 



1907 Guadalupe Island, Schooner Freia (C. M. Harris in charge) 14 



1911 Guadalupe Island, U. S. S. Albatross, G. H. Burrage, U. S. N. Comdg. 



(C. H. Townsend in charge) 10 



Total 454 



The above record is probably far from complete, as only 600 

 animals (including those now at Guadalupe Island) accounted 

 for in forty or fifty years would be but slow increase for animals 

 of the seal tribe. It is interesting to note that the record of 

 killings as far as we have it, is limited to two localities, and one 

 of these, San Cristobal, has yielded nothing since 1884. 



Continued Existence. 



The northern elephant seal has persisted as a race under the 

 most adverse conditions. Its pursuit for oil as carried on prior 

 to 1860 or possibly 1865, having nearly exterminated it, there 



