THE AMPHIBIOUS CARNIVORA. 61 



whole genera of this group, not hybernating, but 

 all alive, and discharging the most important func- 

 tions of the animal economy, can live for three 

 consecutive months without food, is so startling, 

 that we find the greatest difficulty in receiving 

 it. Our scepticism, too, is the more excusable, 

 inasmuch as the evidence on the point is not 

 free from contradiction. Even the testimony of 

 Peron is liable to this charge ; for while, on 

 the one hand, he states, in the words already 

 quoted, " that during the period no member of 

 the family eats," yet he elsewhere mentions, "that 

 when on land, they suck in with delight the 

 fresh water of the ponds and marshes they frequent; 

 and that fungi were discovered in the stomachs of 

 those they killed."* Nor is this the only evidence 

 that may be adduced on this side of the question. 

 The account of these animals given in Anson's 

 voyage, though short, is explicit. " During the 

 time they continue on shore, they feed on the grass 

 and other plants which grow near the banks of the 

 fresh water streams."! And once more, Pernetty, 

 speaking of the Sea-bears, says " They live on 

 herbs, fish, and other animals, when they can find 

 them near their lair.J This, we confess, appears 

 to us by much the most probable account of the 

 matter, and we cannot but suspect that the other, 



* Lib. cit. t. ii. 44. 



t Korr's Collection of Voyages, xi. 



t Voyage aux Maloun. t. ii. 41. 



