ELEPHANT SEAL. 217 



The two rival giant knights waddle heavily along ; 

 they meet, and join snout to snout ; they then raise 

 the anterior portion of their body as far as their 

 fore-paws, and open their immense mouths ; their 

 eyes are inflamed with rage, and they dash against 

 each other with the greatest momentum in their 

 power ; now they tumble one over the other, teeth 

 crash with teeth, and jaws with jaws ; they wound 

 each other deeply, sometimes knocking out each 

 other's eyes, and more frequently their tusks ; the 

 blood flows abundantly; but these raging foes, 

 without ever seeming to observe it, prosecute the 

 combat till their strength is completely exhausted. 

 It is seldom that either is left dead on the field, and 

 the wounds they inflict, however deep, heal with 

 inconceivable rapidity. During these violent com- 

 bats, the females, with apparent indifference, wait 

 the issue for the lord who is to rule over them. 

 He, on the moment of his victory, proud of his 

 success, hastes into the midst of the timid group, 

 and reigns with undisputed empire. The period of 

 gestation appears to be nine or ten months. 



In the meanwhile, as the sun approaches the ant- 

 arctic circle, and the heat proves too much for 

 them, the young having been brought forth dur- 

 ing the smiles of spring, and having now become 

 familiar with their natural element, the whole 

 tribe sets off for the South, there to remain till the 

 threatenings of frost induce them to return to 

 more genial skies. It may be added, however, that 



