ELEPHANT SEAL. 219 



tf progression, the Sea- Elephants, in King's Island, 

 ucceeded in ascending the low downs, of some 

 fifteen or twenty feet elevation, where small ponds 

 of water existed. 



The cry of the female and the young male re- 

 sembles the lowing of an ox; but, in the adult 

 males, the proboscis gives such an inflexion to their 

 voice, that it is something like that kind of noise 

 which may be produced by gurgling. This hoarse 

 and singular cry is heard at a great distance, and 

 is wild and frightful ; and in these dreary regions 

 during the stormy nights which sometimes occur, 

 on being suddenly roused from slumber by the 

 confused bellowings of these colossal animals, con- 

 gregated near your brvouac, you can scarcely resist 

 being seized with a momentary panic. 



We have already noticed that these animals avoid 

 great heat ; and, unlike most of the race, they ap- 

 pear to be greatly incommoded by the direct rays 

 of the sun. Hence, when lying during the day on the 

 beach, they are noticed to take particular delight in 

 covering themselves with great quantities of sand, 

 moistened by the sea water, which they throw over 

 them with their paws till they are entirely enveloped 

 in it. It is under these circumstances especially, that, 

 with Forster, we might mistake them for so many 

 enormous rocks. 



Sea-Elephants are of an extremely mild and do- 

 cile disposition, so that one may pace about among 

 them without fear. They never think of attacking 

 man, unless they are f revoked by the rudest vio- 



