HABITS. 303 



sharp - pointed, maggot -like head, aud comphiceiitly looking 

 about him. They are a rough set of brutes, rank bullies, I 

 should saj^ ; for I have watched them repeatedly, as a big fel- 

 low shouldered his way among his fellows, reared his huge front 

 to intimidate some lesser seal which had secured a favorite sjjot, 

 and first with howls, and if this did not suffice, with teeth and 

 main force, expelled the weaker from his lodgment. The smaller 

 Sea Lions, at least those wliich have left their mothers, appear 

 to have no rights which any one is bound to respect. They get 

 out of the way with abject promptness, which proves that they 

 live in terror of the stronger members of the community; but 

 they do not give up their places without harsh complaint aud 

 piteous groans."* 



Dr. John A. Veatch, in his account of the Cerros or Cedros 

 Island, situated off the coast of Lower California (between the 

 parallels of 28 and 2S^o), doubtless refers to this species uuder 

 the name of Otariajuhata. He says : " He [the Sea Lion] is more 

 prolific [than the Sea Elephant], aud there are fewer induce- 

 ments for his destruction. He is, however, by no means beyond 

 danger from the oil-man. At certain seasons, when the Lion 

 chances to have a little fat on his bones, he is slaughtered 

 most mercilessly. Fortunately for him his skin is nearl}^ worth- 

 less, or tliere would be double inducement for his destruction. 

 Toward the north end of the island there is a great breeding- 

 place for these animals. It is a small bay, two or three miles 

 in length, and perhaps three-fourths of a mile in breadth, sur- 

 rounded on the land by a i)erpendicular cliff, and on the ocean- 

 side by a belt of kelp. It is thus protected both from winds 

 and waves. It is bordered with a sandy beach, some 200 paces 

 in breadth. The access by land is exceedingly difficult, and can 

 only be gained by careful clambering down where breaks and 

 fissures offer hand and foot-hold. This sequestered aud quiet 

 place is the comfortable and appropriate resort of the lionesses 

 to bring forth and rear their young. It is, indeed, a great seal- 

 luirsery. JNIy first visit to this interesting locality was in the 

 latter part of the month of July [1859]. Seals, in countless 

 uumbers, literally covered the beach. They were of everj' con- 

 ceivable size, from the young ones, seemingly a few days old, 

 np to the full-grown animal. So unconscious of danger were 

 the little ones, that they scarce made au effort to get out of the 



* Charles Nordhoff, "The Farallon Islands," in Harper's Magazine, vol. 

 xlviii, p. 620, April, 1874. 



