THE AMPHIBIOUS CARN1VORA. 73 



again, ( Otaria jubata,) an animal of equal dimen- 

 sions and power, is a polygamist, and exhibits in 

 strong colours the penalty which naturally results 

 from this characteristic. At a particular season of 

 the year, every male, inflamed with lust, and jealous 

 almost at his shadow, lords it over his numerous ha- 

 rem with even more than Eastern despotism, and 

 thereby throws the whole community into a state of 

 the highest excitement and agitation. During this 

 period, which continues for months, many a jealous 

 Bashaw, as these animals have not inaptly been de- 

 signated, engages in fearful strife with a rival ; the 

 contest is often long and obstinate, as well as most 

 sanguinary and fatal. Nor does it end with these 

 doughty champions. Other males soon imagine 

 that their interests are involved, or their rights in- 

 vaded, and the strife spreads from family to family, 

 till at length the whole community is involved in 

 one general melee of passion and rage, of fierce cries 

 and groans, of blood and death ; and, after all, 

 short is the triumph of the conqueror, and deep and 

 poignant the chagrin and malice of the vanquished. 

 Originally, and therefore we are disposed to hold 

 that naturally, these Amphibia, far from having a 

 dread, have rather a reposing confidence in man. 

 When a young one by any accident is separated from 

 its parents, and comes in contact with man, instead 

 of shunning it courts nis company ; it will follow 

 him, and if the finger be held out, will suck it like 

 many domestic animals. Through the kindness of 

 Professor Trail, we can illustrate this trait in 



