234 SEA-LION OF STELLER. 



them in abundance on the coasts of America in July 

 They are not so migratory as some other species, 

 but still have their summer and winter quarters. 

 They live chiefly on rocky shores, and desert rocks 

 of the ocean, on which tfyey climb, and their roaring 

 is said to be useful in the foggy weather of those 

 regions, by warning navigators to avoid destruction, 

 Though the males have a terrible aspect, yet they 

 take flight on the first appearance of man ; and if 

 surprised in their sleep, they are panic-struck, sigh- 

 ing deeply, and in their attempt to escape, get quite 

 confused, tumble down, and tremble so much, that 

 they are scarcely able to move their limbs. If, how- 

 ever, reduced to extremity, they grow desperate, turn 

 on their enemy with great fury and noise, and put 

 even the most valiant * / flight. On this account the 

 Kamskatkans never i tack them in the open sea, 

 nor without many precautions on land. They usually 

 watch their opportunity to find one asleep, when the 

 most courageous amongst them strikes their har- 

 poon into the creature, and takes to his heels as fast 

 as he can ; his comrades then fasten the line at- 

 tached to the harpoon to a strong stake, and its 

 flight thus arrested, they shoot at it with arrows, 

 and dart their lances, until being nearly overcome, 

 they venture in and despatch it with their clubs. 

 They often also employ poisoned arrows with effect. 

 It is at the same time true that many of the natives 

 of those regions, from the great size and power of 

 these animals, attach a kind of glory to the destruc- 

 tion of a Sea- Lion, and that some of them will hunt 



