234 SEA-LION. 



they seem aware of their weakness, and keep at a distance, 

 remaining quiet in their favorite retreat. The lionesses 

 endeavor to make their escape from the thick of the fight. 

 Their maternal affection does not appear to be so strong as 

 in some of their congeners, although Forster stated in his 

 private memoir to Buffon, that he had sometimes seen them 

 defend their young at the expense of their lives. 



Sea-Lions are not more savage, nor more objects of appre- 

 hension, than the other species. They are equally heavy 

 and clumsy in their gait, and more frequently endeavor to 

 fly, than to run at those who attack them. They live upon 

 fish, sea-birds, which they catch by surprising them, and 

 herbs. They bring forth their young among the rushes, 

 which grow on the sea-shore, to which they retire for the 

 night, and continue to suckle them till they are strong enough 

 to go out to sea. At sunset they are seen to congregate to- 

 gether, and to land in troops on the shore, and then the cubs 

 call for their dams by cries so like those of lambs, and calves, 

 and kids, that any one might be easily deceived, if he were 

 not aware of their true nature. 



It was stated that their flesh was veiy good, but I, says 

 Pemetty, never tasted it ; but I can affirm that their oil is 

 most excellent : it is obtained both by the assistance of heat, 

 and without it, corning away spontaneously when exposed 

 to the sun and air, when it is excellent for culinary purposes. 



We shall close these accounts of the Sea-Lions by a short 

 extract from Captain Weddell. " Near the middle of the 

 island of Santa Cruz, on the east coast of Patagonia, is an 

 island which is called Sea-Lion Island, from the number of 

 these animals residing upon it. This amphibious creature is 

 most properly denominated, from its similarity to the quad- 

 ruped of that name. Its face is not unlike that of the lion, 

 but, in particular, a long mane, and a bold and fierce front, 

 which it presents when standing on its fore flippers, bear a 

 near resemblance to that animal. A full grown Sea-Lion 

 measures eleven feet from the tip of the nose to the extremity 

 of the tail, and eight feet in circumference." 



