SBA-BEAR OF STELLER. 259 



attack him ; and if he commences to fly, the others 

 suddenly surround him and severely punish him. 

 " I doubt not," adds Steller, "that many of us would 

 have been killed by them, could they have used their 

 feet on land as well as in the water. It is danger- 

 ous to engage in contest with them in the open 

 plain, and next to impossible to escape from them. 

 Their awkwardness and difficulty in ascending emi- 

 nences constitutes the principal safety of the as- 

 sailants. Sometimes I have been beset by them for 

 six hours together ; and have been obliged at last 

 to ascend a precipice, to get rid of the infuriated 

 creatures, at the imminent peril of my life." 



They are very tenacious of life, and will live a 

 fortnight after receiving wounds which would nave 

 immediately destroyed any other animal. 



Besides their notes of war they have several 

 others. When they are amusing themselves on 

 shore, they low like a cow, and after victory chirp 

 like a cricket ; and upon receiving a wound, com- 

 plain like a whelp. 



This Ursine Seal is an object of terror to com- 

 mon Seals and Sea- Otters, whilst it stands in awe 

 of the Sea- Lions, and leaves to them their favourite 

 haunts on shore. The older animals are in no fear 

 of mankind, unless suddenly surprised, when they 

 hurry off by thousands into the sea, swim about, 

 and stare at the novelty of their disturbers. 



They swim with amazing swiftness, at the rate of 

 eight miles an hour, and often on their back ; they 



