110 ANIMAL SKETCHES. CHAP. 



jecting from the end. If I then had big broad flippers for 

 hands and feet, I might be able to swim by wagging them 

 to and fro ; but I should find walking, even on all fours, an 

 awkward business. And so, in truth, do the seals and sea- 

 lions, though the sea-lions and fur seals are the better off 

 in this respect, because their fore-flippers are longer and 

 stronger, and their hind-flippers can be turned forward at 

 the ankle. At the Zoo, you will be able to see how these 

 creatures manage on the land. The poor little seal, when 

 the keeper tempts him from the water with a fish, will 

 probably not attempt to use its flippers at all, but will 

 shuffle along by a series of comical spasmodic jumps on its 

 sleek round body. The sea-lions get on better ; but their 

 gait is very funny. You must see for yourselves. The 

 fore-flippers reminded Frank Buckland of Bob Ridley's 

 shoes in a nigger performance " From the wrist they 

 flop, flop, in a semicircle as right and left foot is alternately 

 raised, while the hind-quarters hitch, hitch, as each hind 

 foot comes wobble, wobble, under the body, the great toes 

 even over-lapping the fore-flipper." Yes ! we may laugh 

 at the clumsy old sea-lion on land, as he flops and hitches 

 and wobbles along. But let him just slip into the water ! 

 There he is in his element. Even in our round tank at 

 Regent's Park you may get some idea of the consummate 

 grace and ease of his movements in the water. At Ham- 

 burg the sea-lions have more space, and one can command 

 a view of the pond from above. I was astonished at the 

 velocity with which the Californian sea-lions there cleaved 

 the water, at the ease with which they turned, and at the 

 absolute command they had over every movement. To 

 those who like to see a thing really well done I commend 

 the poetry of aquatic motion in the seals and sea-lions. 



Of course you must see the sea-lions fed. The intel- 

 ligent keeper has taught the tractable creatures to catch 



