220 



late the latter part of autumn;, and the female 

 brings forth her young in the spring'^, of which 

 she has generally two^ sometimes three at a birth. 

 She is distinguished from the male by a longer 

 neckj and a more delicate and beautiful form. 

 The urigne abounds in blood, v/hich, whenever 

 it is woundedj flows from it in great quantities; 

 like many other aquatic animals, it has beneath 

 the skin a covering of soft fat ; this is five inches 

 in thickness, and easily reducible to oil, JSot- 

 withstanding the inconvenient coni'ormation of 

 their feet for that puipose, they readily climb 

 up the rocks, on whicli they are fond of sleeping, 

 though they walk very badiy, or rather draw 

 themselves, when on shore from one place to 

 another. It would, however, be very imprudent 

 to approach thern carelessly, for although so 

 heavy and clumsy in appearance, their necks have 

 great flexibility, and thev are capable of inllict- 

 in;>; severe wounds vvitb their lon^r teeth. 



These phoc?E swiin with great swifiness, and 

 ma.ke use principally of their hind feet, whici: they 

 extend in a slraiglil tine, so as at a (iistance to re- 

 semble the tail of a fish. They cannot re r:ain 

 lona: under water, and frequentlv raise their 

 heads to breathe, or to watch tlie approach of 

 penguins and other aquatic birds, of v^hichthey 

 make their prey. The cry of the old urignes 

 resembles the roaring of a bull or the grunting 

 of a hog, while that of the young is more like 



