^4' 



to be very amorous, and. frequently fight for the 

 exclusive possession of the females, until the 

 death of one of them terminates the contest ; 

 from this cause the skins of so many of them are 

 covered with scars. Whenever the males fight, 

 the females retire apart, awaiting the issue of a 

 combat which is to place them in possession of 

 the victor. 



The sea-lion (phoca leonina) is of a better 

 proportioned and more elegant form than any 

 other species of phoca, though like the rest its 

 shape is conical. It is covered with a yellowish 

 hair, wliicii from the shoulders to the tail is 

 short, but on the neck and near the head is as 

 long as that of a goat, and forms a very percepti- 

 ble mane, that distinguishes this from every other 

 kind of phoca. Tlie Indians call it tJwpel-lamc, 

 that is, the lame with a mane. Its head resem- 

 bles that of the lion, it has a large flat nose, 

 vvithout hair from (he middle to the i'qi ; the ears 

 are almost round, and stand oiri about (we-thirds 

 of an inch from the head; its eyes, the pupils of 

 Arnicli arc grecni^-h- are very bright and spark- 

 jir.g, and the upper lip is furnished with long- 

 white whiskers, like tl:osc of a tiger. The 

 mouth is very wide, and has thirty-four teeth set 

 deep in the jaw, which are very large and solid, 

 and as white as ivory ; the middle teeth are 

 about four inches in length, and an inch and a 

 lialf in diameter ; the incisors do not project 



