240 SEA-LION OF FORSTER. 



their sleep, (for they are sluggish, sleepy animals,) 

 they would raise up their heads, snort and snarl, 

 and look fierce, as if they meant to devour us ; but 

 as we advanced upon them they always ran away, 

 so that they are downright bullies."* 



Forster remarks, that the " rocks along the shore, 

 in New- Year's Harbour, were covered with multi- 

 tudes of these Seals, which, from their manes, well 

 deserved the name of Sea-Lions. We put into a 

 little cove under the shelter of some rocks, and fired 

 at some of these fierce animals, most of which im- 

 mediately threw themselves into the sea. Some of 

 the most unwieldy, however, kept their ground, and 

 were killed by our bullets. The noise which all 

 the animals of this kind made was various, and 

 sometimes stunned our ears. The old males snort 

 and roar like mad bulls or lions ; the females bleat 

 exactly like calves, and the young cubs like lambs. 

 They live together in numerous herds. The oldest 

 and fattest males lie apart, each having chosen a 

 large rock to which none of the rest dare approach 

 without engaging in furious combat. We have 

 often seen them seize each other with a degree of 

 rage which is not to be described ; and many of 

 them had deep gashes on their backs, which they 

 nad received in the wars. The younger active 

 Sea- Lions, with all the females and the cubs, lie 

 together. They commonly waited the approach of 

 our people ; but so soon as some of the herd were 



In Kerr's Voyages, vol. xv. p. )6. 



