258 SEA-BEAR OF STELLEft. 



instantly quits the enemy, falls on her, and beats 

 her against the stones, till he leaves her for dead. 

 As soon as she recovers she crawls to his feet in the 

 most suppliant manner, and bedews them with her 

 tears, whilst he keeps stalking about in the most 

 insolent manner ; but if the cub is carried off, he 

 melts likewise, sheds tears, and shows every mark of 

 deep sorrow. 



Those animals which are destitute of females, and 

 from age are deserted by them, withdraw from the 

 society, and grow excessively splenetic, peevish, and 

 quarrelsome ; they are also very furious ; and so 

 attached to their selected stations, as to prefer death 

 to the loss of them. They are enormously fat, and 

 emit a most nauseous and rank swell. If one per- 

 ceives another approach its seat, he is instantly 

 roused from his indolence, snaps at the encroacher, 

 and gives battle. During the fight they insensibly 

 encroach on the stations of others ; this creates new 

 offence, so that at length the civil discord spreads 

 along the whole shore, attended with hideous growls, 

 their note of war. Sometimes they will attack any 

 one that passes near them ; when they see a person 

 approaching, some of them immediately throw them- 

 selves upon him, and the others prepare for contest ; 

 they furiously bite the stones that are thrown at 

 them, and run upon him who throws them, and 

 even if you knock out their teeth and their eyes, 

 they will not flee. In fact, none of them dare aban- 

 don his post, because the others would in that case 



