282 TYPES OF ANIMAL LIFE 



possession, and sufficiently remote not to yield to the 

 temptation of neglecting to watch over her, in order to 

 secure an additional bride. Meanwhile, the strong and 

 vigorous males close to the shore will usually obtain 

 from a dozen to fifteen wives, and as many as forty-live 

 have been found appropriated by one powerful old male. 

 The females never fight or quarrel with one another, and 

 are said seldom to utter a cry of pain, although they are 

 often severely wounded while being contended for by the 

 males, who each seize them with their teeth. 



The sea-lions fight almost entirely with the mouth, 

 and are often covered with scars and gashes, not unfre- 

 quently losing an eye in their struggles. Mr. Elliott * 

 tells us that they usually approach each other with 

 averted heads and a great many false passes before 

 either one or the other takes the initiative by gripping ; 

 their heads are darted out and back with the greatest 

 rapidity, their hoarse roaring or shrill wiiistling never 

 ceasing, while their fat bodies writhe and swell with 

 exertion and rage, blood streaming from their bodies and 

 their fur flying about in all directions. When one of 

 the combatants feels he has had enough and retires, he 

 is never pursued by his conqueror, who remains quiet, 

 uttering a peculiar chuckle, which seems to indicate 

 satisfaction and contempt, keeping, however, a sharp 

 eye open all the time for the next rival who may 

 approach. 



Owing to their gregarious habits the females lie most 

 contentedly together in the largest harems. The males 

 during the breeding season remain wholly upon land, and 

 they will suffer death rather than leave the spot they 

 have chosen. They thus sustain, for a period of three 



* See his report on the Prybiloff group of Fur Seal Islands of 

 Alaska. 



