AMPHIBIOUS CARNIVORA. 79 



sustained a heavy blow without injury, she knit- 

 ted her brows, as is the fashion of the animal 

 when incensed, and making use at once of her 

 fore-paws, and her unwieldy strength, wrenched the 

 weapon out of the assailant's hand, overturned 

 him on the sands, and scuttled away into the sea 

 without doing him any further injury. The cap- 

 tain, a good deal out of countenance at the issue 

 of his exploit, just rose in time to receive the 

 ironical congratulations of his uncle, upon a single 

 combat, worthy to be commemorated by Ossian 

 himself. * Since,' said the Antiquary, * your mag- 

 nanimous opponent hath fled from the foe that 

 was low.' In truth, she walloped away with all the 

 grace of triumph, and has carried my stick off also, 

 by way of spolia opima" 



When the animal has been captured, and is forced 

 to remain on land, there is the greatest contrast pre- 

 sented to all this activity and sagacity. To such an 

 extent is this the case, that it suggests the idea 

 that sometimes they are almost in the drowsy 

 state of hybernating animals. Buffon remarks of 

 the Monachus which he examined, " It slept fre- 

 quently during the day, snoring so loud that 

 it was heard at a considerable distance. When 

 asleep it could be roused only with difficulty ; 

 and when drowsy, would not promptly attend to 

 his master." And to come to an authority, whose 

 loss Zoologists have lately been called to deplore,* 

 " They have a great tendency to repose ; sleep 



M. Fr. Cuvier. 



