CHASE AND PRODUCTS. 755 



and sunny days we have watched them come up singly on 

 smooth beaches, and burrow in the dry sand, throwing over 

 their backs the lose particles that collect about their fore 

 limbs, and nearly covering themselves from view; but when 

 not disturbed, the animals follow their gregarious propensity, 

 and collect in large herds." " The largest number I ever found 

 in one herd," he states in another connection, " was one hundred 

 and sixty-five, which lay promiscuously along the beach or up 

 the ravine near by." 



Nothing further respecting the breeding habits or sexual re- 

 lations of the species appears to have been as yet recorded, but 

 they may be presumed to be similar to those of the Sea Ele- 

 phant of the Antarctic Seas.* 



CHASE AND PRODUCTS. The mode of capturing Sea Ele- 

 phants on the coast of California has been described by Cap- 

 tain Scammon, who "in 1852, when the 'gold fever' raged", 

 was compelled by force of circumstances "to take command of 

 a brig bound on a i sealing, Sea-elephant and whaling voyage' 

 or abandon sea life at least temporarily". He says: "The 

 sailors get between the herd and the water ; then, raising all 

 possible noise by shouting, and at the same time flourishing 

 clubs, guns, and lances, the party advance slowly toward the 

 rookery, when the animals will retreat, appearing in a state of 

 great alarm. Occasionally an overgrown male will give battle, 

 or attempt to escape; but a musket-ball through the brain dis- 

 patches it; or some one checks its progress by thrusting a 

 lance into the roof of its mouth, which causes it to settle on its 

 haunches, when two men with heavy oaken clubs give the crea- 

 ture repeated blows about the head, until it is stunned or killed. 

 After securing those that are disposed to show resistance, the 

 party rush on the main body. The onslaught creates such a panic 

 among these peculiar creatures, that, losing all control of their 

 actions, they climb, roll, and tumble over each other, when pre- 



* The Sea Elephants appear to be exceptional among the Phocidce in the 

 great disparity of size between the sexes, in which, as well as in their 

 breeding habits, they closely resemble the Otaries. Although, unlike the 

 latter, they have not the power of using the hind limbs in locomotion on 

 laud, and are hence unable to walk, they manage to crawl to a considerable 

 distance from the sea, according to Scammon, a " half a mile or more ". 

 The habits of the Southern Sea Elephant (Macrorhinua leoninus) were long 

 since described by Anson and Pernety, and later by Pe"ron, but their ac- 

 counts seem in some respects to be tinged with romance. According to these 

 writers the males nght desperately for the possession of the females. 



