298 ZALOPHUS OALIFORNIANUS CALIFORNIAN SEA LION. 



to leave their charges and go off, apparently in search of sub- 

 sistence, but they do not venture far from their young ones. 

 That the Sea Lion can go without food for a long time is un- 

 questionable. One of the superintendents of Woodward's Gar- 

 dens informed me that in numerous instances they had received 

 Sea Lions into the aquarium which did not eai a morsel of nour- 

 ishment during a whole month, and appeared to suffer but little 

 inconvenience from their long fast. 



u As the time approaches for their annual assemblage, those 

 returning or coming from abroad are seen near the shores, ap- 

 pearing wild and shy. Soon after, however, the females gather 

 upon the beaches, cliffs, or rocks, when the battles among the 

 old males begin for the supreme control of the harems; these 

 struggles often lasting for days, the fight being kept up until 

 one or both become exhausted, but is renewed again when suf- 

 ficiently recuperated for another attack ; and, really, the atti- 

 tudes assumed and the passes made at each other, equal the 

 amplification of a professional fencer. The combat lasts until 

 both become disabled or one is driven from the ground, or per- 

 haps both become so reduced that a third party, fresh from his 

 winter migration, drives them from the coveted charge. The 

 vanquished animals then slink off to some retired spot as if dis- 

 graced. Nevertheless, at times, two or more will have charge 

 of the same rookery j but in such instances frequent defiant 

 growlings and petty battles occur. So far as we have observed 

 upon the Sea Lions of the California coast, there is but little at- 

 tachment manifested between the sexes ; indeed, much of the 

 Turkish nature is apparent, but the females show some affec- 

 tion for their offspring, yet, if alarmed when upon the land, they 

 will instantly desert them and take to the water. The young 

 cubs, on the other hand, are the most fractious and savage little 

 creatures imaginable, especially if awakened from their nearly 

 continuous sleeping 5 and frequently, when a mother reclines to 

 nurse her single whelp, a swarm of others will perhaps contend 

 for the same favor. 



u To give a more detailed and extended account of the Sea 

 Lions we will relate a brief sketch of a sealing season on 

 Santa Barbara Island. It was near the end of May, 1852, 

 when we arrived, and soon after the rookeries of i clapmatches, 7 

 which were scattered around the island, began to augment, 

 and large numbers of huge males made their appearance, 

 belching forth sharp, ugly howls, and leaping out of or dart- 



