EARED SEALS. 



i»3 



it, he retires to repeat the manoeuvre. This has the effect of rousing the rear rank, 

 which, thus suddenly alarmed, plunges forward and arouses those in front, which 

 suddenly begin struggling and biting The return of the man with the umbrella 

 communicates another shock, and adds another wave to the sluggish mass. This 

 is repeated at intervals of four or five minutes, till the successive shocks have 

 aroused the whole herd, when, with much roaring and bellowing, the whole mass 

 begins to move, gradually extending itself in a long irregular line in open order, 

 each animal -lumbering along as best it can. By shouting and waving flags at the 

 reai-, and on the flanks of the herd, they are kept moving until it is necessary to 

 halt them again for rest." 



Finally, the herd reaches the village, when the sea-lions, being far too formid- 

 able animals to be despatched with clubs, are shot with rifles ; the full-grown males 

 being killed first, after which the fore-part of the herd is driven back upon and 

 over the rear, when the slaughter is continued with lances. The description of 

 this scene is, however, by no means pleasant reading, and may accordingly be 

 passed over. 



Caiifornian The Californian sea-lion (0. gillespii), which, far from being re- 



sea-Lion. stricted to the country from which it derives its name, is found on 

 both sides of the North 

 Pacific, is a much smaller 

 species than the last, from 

 which it is readily distin- 

 guished by the convex 

 crown of the head, and the 

 sadden descent of the 

 profile at the eye ; the side 

 view of the head somewhat 

 recall in<r that of the doe:- 

 Faced baboons. The bristles 

 on the side of the muzzle 

 are also very small. The 

 skull is characterised by its 

 narrowness and elongation, 

 and also by the great 

 development of the bony 



erests on the brain-case. The general colour is a dark chestnut-brown, becoming 

 blackish brown on the under-parts and limbs; but there is great seasonal and 

 individual variation in this respect. Mr. Allen gives the total length of adult 

 males as varying from 7 to 8 feet; those measurements being taken from the 

 muzzle to the end of the outstretched flippers. 



There has been some confusion as regards the habits of this 

 species, owing to its having been confounded with the northern sea- 

 lion. Both species occur on the Farallone Islands, near San Francisco ; but the 

 present species is by far the more numerous of the two, and appears to be the only 

 one represented on the neighbouring island of Santa Barbara. Mr. Elliot states 

 that the two species may be readily distinguished by their voices ; the northern 



VOL. II. — 8 



head op californian sea-lion. —After Forbes. 



Habits. 



