180 CARNIVORA. 



" They usually approach each other with averted heads 

 and a great many false passes before either one or the 

 other takes the initiative by gripping ; the head is 

 darted out and back as quick as flash, their hoarse 

 roaring and shrill piping whistle never ceasing, their fat 

 bodies writhing and swelling with exertion and rage, fur 

 flying in air and blood streaming down, all combined, 

 make a picture fierce and savage enough, and, from its 

 great novelty, exceeding strange at first sight. 



" In these battles the parties are alwaj-s distinct, the 

 offensive and the defensive ; if the latter prove the 

 weaker he withdraws from the position occupied, and is 

 never followed by his conqueror, who complacently 

 throws up one of his hind flippers, fans himself as if it 

 were to cool himself from the heat of the conflict, utters 

 a peculiar chuckle of satisfaction or contempt, with a 

 sharp eye open for the next covetous bull or ' ree-catch.' 



" The period occupied by the males in taking and 

 holding their positions on the rookery, offers a favourable 

 opportunity in which to study them in the thousand and 

 one different attitudes and postures assumed between 

 the two extremes of desperate conflict and deep sleep — 

 sleep so sound that one can, by keeping to the leeward, 

 approach close enough, stepping softly, to pull the 

 whiskers of any one taking a nap on a clear place ; but 

 after the first touch to these whiskers, the trifler must 

 step back with great celerity if he has any regard for 

 the sharp teeth and tremendous shaking which will 

 surely overtake him if he does not. 



"All the bulls now have the power and frequent 

 inclination to utter four distinct calls or notes — a hoarse, 

 resonant roar, loud and long ; a low, gurgling growl ; 

 a chuckling, sibilant, piping whistle, of which it is 

 impossible to convey an adequate idea, for it must be 



