THE MANED SEA LION 



before eating it ; we certainly have noticed something of 

 the kind among the numerous specimens that have been 

 exhibited at the Zoological Gardens. Yet Audubon, who 

 knew his beasts and especially his birds well, distinctly 

 says that he never saw anything of the kind. Living as 

 it does in a climate which varies greatly from summer to 

 winter it is natural that the raccoon should hibernate. 

 But apparently this habit is not universal in the race. 

 For they have been seen at large in the winter, braving 

 the extreme cold of North America. This being the 

 case it is not surprising to learn that the hibernation is 

 a very perfunctory affair as compared with the prepara- 

 tions indulged in by some other mammals. The 'coon 

 makes for itself no special home for the winter, but lies 

 coiled up in the hollow trunk of a tree, or even upon 

 the branches of the same. It is in fact mostly an 

 arboreal creature, though it can swim and capture fish. 

 It makes its home in trees and carries on its business 

 elsewhere. This is one of the animals concerning which 

 it can safely be said that there is sure to be at least a 

 single specimen on view at the Zoo, and probably of 

 both the " common " and the " crab-eating " species. 



THE PATAGONIAN AND OTHER SEA LIONS 



The Patagonian sea lion, Otaria jubata, is, as its name 

 suggests, a native of the sea coasts of the extreme south 

 of the American continent, and of certain adjacent groups 

 of islands. The term sea " lion, " and the scientific 

 name of the species " jubata," mark a distinctive char- 

 acter of this species, which is the possession of a name 

 not visible in the animal unless its fur has got dry 

 through basking in the sun. To the several other 

 species of " otaries " (for example the Cape otary which 

 is figured herewith), the name sea bear is given, a nan?e 

 which has distinct merits in that it is perhaps to the 

 bear tribe among the fissipede carnivora that the Pinni- 



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