EARED SEALS. 



in 



swing their long heavy necks to and fro, with every elevation of their hind- 

 quarters, which they seldom raise from the ground, drawing them up after the 

 fore-feet with a slide over the grass, sand, rock, etc., as the case may be ; and 

 pausing frequently to take a sullen and ferocious survey of the field and the 

 drivers. It further appears from the same account that the males are less systematic 

 and exacting in the formation and protection of their parties of females than is the 

 case with the northern sea-bear ; and they are not known to travel so far inland. 

 Moreover, these seals are very shy and wary, and never allow their haunts to be 



THE NORTHERN SEA-LION (3^ nat. size). 



visited by man without making a sudden rush to the sea. The males leave the sea 

 and take up their stations on the narrow belts of ground, which they prefer, early 

 in May, while the females follow them after an interval of three or four weeks, 

 thus arriving during the first weeks in June. Usually each male during the 

 breeding-season is accompanied by from ten to fifteen females. The latter are 

 allowed to move freely from place to place ; and are accustomed to go down to 

 the shore, accompanied by their young often carried by the nape of the neck 

 and disport themselves in the surf; such rambles being never undertaken by 

 the female sea-bears. On the two main islands of the Prybiloff group, respect- 

 ively known as St. Paul's and St. George's, it was estimated by Mr. Elliot that 



