SEA LIONS. 141 



been stated. A young one, petted by an English seaman^ 

 became so attached to his master from kind treatment for a 

 few months, that it would come at his call, allow him to 

 mount upon its back, and put his hands into its mouth. 



The cry of the female and the young is said to be like 

 the lowing of an ox ; but the hoarse, gurgling, singular voice 

 of the male — strengthened by the proboscis — is heard from 

 a great distance, and is wild and frightful. They are found 

 in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans. The great object for 

 which this animal is hunted is for the oil, which is remark- 

 ably pure in quality ; the skin is used extensively for car- 

 riage and horse harness, on account of its thickness and 

 strength. 



The Sea Leopard is a rare species of seal, in length about 

 nine feet ten inches, which has been found in South Shet- 

 land. The Monk Seal frequents the southern shores of 

 Europe. 



The Otaries are a species of seal thus named because 

 their heads are furnished with external ears, of which the 

 others are deprived, and from whom they also differ in other 

 particulars. These include the Sea-Lion of the Northern 

 seas, about fifteen feet in length, and found chiefly on 

 rocky coasts and islet rocks, on the ledges of which it 

 climbs, and its roaring is sometimes useful as warning sailors 

 of danger. The old males have a fierce aspect, but it is 

 only when driven to extremities that they fight furiously. 

 The Sea-Bear, or Ursine Seal, is an inhabitant of the North- 

 ern Pacific, and attains a length of about eight feet. The 

 hinder limbs of this animal being better developed, it can 

 stand and walk almost like a land quadruped. It swims 

 with great swiftness, and is fierce and courageous. The 

 skin is much prized for clothing in the regions where it 

 abounds. 



