242 SEA-LION OF FORSTER. 



to twenty young ones of both sexes. They swim 

 about all together at sea, and also remain united 

 when they repose on land. According to Forster, 

 the sight or voice of man makes them flee, and 

 throw themselves into* the water; for, although they 

 are large and strong, they are also timid ; and when 

 a man attacks them even with a good stick they 

 rarely defend themselves, but retreat precipitately. 

 They never commence an attack, or act on the 

 offensive, so that a person may be in the midst of 

 them without any apprehension. 



The females never fight with each other, nor 

 with the males, and seem to live in entire depend- 

 ence upon the chief of the family ; but when two 

 grown males, or rather two heads of families, en- 

 gage, all the females attend in their train, to witness 

 the contest ; and if the chief of another troop in- 

 terfere with the combatants, either on one side or 

 the other, his example is immediately followed by 

 many other chiefs, and then the combat becomes 

 almost general, and terminates only in a vast effu- 

 sion of blood, and often even in the death of many 

 of the males, whose females are instantly joined to 

 the family of the victor. It has been remarked, 

 that the very aged males do not interfere in these 

 struggles; they seem aware of their weakness, and 

 keep at a distance, remaining quiet in their favourite 

 retreat. The lionesses endeavour to make their es- 

 cape from the thick of the fight. Their maternal 

 affection does not appear to be so strong as in 

 some of their congeners, although Forster stated 



