EARED SEALS. 107 



the Patagonian sea-lion, which differs in certain points from all the rest ; and to 

 refer the rest to a second genus (Arctocephalus). 



This group is widely distributed over the temperate and colder regions of both 

 the Northern and Southern Hemispheres; but, doubtless from the absence of 

 suitable sites for breeding-places, is quite unrepresented in the North Atlantic. 

 As a rule, sea-lions or hair-seals, and sea-bears or fur-seals, are found frequenting 

 the same shores, but generally living apart from one another ; while, with but rare 

 exceptions, only one species of each section occurs in any one locality. Of the 

 nine species provisionally recognised by Mr. Allen, two out of the five hair-seals 

 are northern, and three are southern ; while of the four fur-seals one is northern 

 and three are southern. By later writers it is considered, however, that there 

 are certainly two other species of southern eared seals. 



As we have already had occasion to mention, the whole of the 



eared seals spend a good deal of their time on land, where they 

 assemble in large companies ; and they are also polygamous. Moreover, the males 

 are generally much superior in size to their consorts. At the breeding-places, 

 which are known among sealers by the very inappropriate name of " rookeries," 

 the older males are always the first to arrive, and thereupon select particular 

 stations for themselves, where they await the advent of the females. A continual 

 warfare is, maintained by the males among themselves for the preservation of these 

 stations, and also for the defence of their females. The strongest males are 

 naturally successful in obtaining possession of the largest number of females ; the 

 number of females on the stations of the largest males usually varying from ten to 

 fifteen or more. To guard such large harems requires constant vigilance on the 

 part of the males, who remain on land throughout the whole breeding-season, 

 during which period they undergo an unbroken fast of several weeks' duration. 

 When they first take up their stations on land, the males are fat and in good 

 condition ; but at the end of their sojourn they become emaciated and weak to the 

 last degree. The females, although after their arrival they remain continuously 

 for a certain period on the stations of their lords, do not spend nearly such a long 

 unbroken period on shore. 



The largest members of the family are hair-seals, and the smallest 



fur-seals. Mr. Allen states that " all the hair-seals are yellowish or 

 reddish brown (in the Californian sea-lion sometimes brownish black), generally 

 darkest when young, and becoming lighter with age, and also in the same 

 individuals towards the moulting season. . . . All the fur-seals are black when 

 young, but they become lighter with age, through an abundant mixture of greyish 

 hairs which vary from yellowish grey to whitish grey. The southern fur-seals 

 are generally, when adult, much greyer than the northern." There is, however, 

 much individual variation in colour among the members of a species according 

 to age. 



The fur-seals are, of course, far more valuable commercially than 



the hair-seals. The best skins are afforded by young males and 

 females ; and these are prepared for use by the inner layer of the skin being shaved 

 away with a sharp knife, thus causing the long hairs, which are deeper rooted than 

 the woolly under-fur, to fall out. 



