THE CALIFORNIAN SEA-LION 



(Otaria californiana) 



WITH this animal we come to that remarkable group of water-carnivores 

 known as the Pi nnipedia (fin-footed), comprising the Sea-Lions, Walruses, 

 and Seals proper, all of which are adapted more for swimming than 

 for locomotion on land, their limbs having the basal part very short, 

 while hardly more than the paws project from the trunk. These take 

 the form of flippers or paddles, and in the Sea-Lion are very long 

 and flat, and hairless on the ends and soles. The fore-paw has no 

 claws, and the skin of the fingers and toes projects far beyond their 

 tips. The first toe in the fore-paw is the longest, the length of the 

 other paw diminishing rapidly ; while in the hind-paw the two outer toes 

 are much longer and stronger than the three inside ones. 



The tail, as in all the pinnipeds, is small and insignificant. Very 

 obvious distinctions between the Sea-Lions and the true Seals are the 

 comparatively long neck of the former and the presence of small 

 external ears, which are wanting in the Seals proper. 



The actions of the two groups are also different ; in the water the 

 Sea-Lion mainly uses its fore-paws in swimming, the hind-flippers 

 seeming chiefly to come into play in steering; but on land they are 

 turned forward like the hind-feet of an ordinary beast, and assist in 

 supporting the body. The animal also has a true quadruped gait, 

 a sort of awkward gallop, by which it can get along quite rapidly for 

 a short distance, though soon becoming exhausted. 



In spite of the awkwardness of its movements, however, it is 

 a good climber, and can get up almost any declivity which a man 

 could ascend, the long rubbery flippers giving a good hold on the 

 ground. But, of course, the creature's proper element is the sea, in 

 which its motions are powerful and graceful to a degree; it darts 



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