184 CARNIVORA. 



in one paunch I found about five pounds in tlie aggregate 

 of larger pebbles, which in grinding against one another 

 must destroy, in a great measure, these intestinal pests. 

 The Sea-Lion is also troubled in the same way by a similar 

 species of worm, and I have preserved a stomach of one 

 of these animals, in which there are more than ten 

 pounds of boulders, some of them alone quite large. The 

 greater size of this animal enables it to swallow stones 

 which weigh two or three pounds. I can ascribe no 

 other cause for this habit among the animals than that 

 given, as they are of the highest type of the carnivorse, 

 eating fish as a regular means of subsistence ; varying 

 the monotony of this diet with occasional juicy fronds of 

 seaweed or kelp, and perhaps a crab, or such, once in a 

 while, provided it is small and tender, or soft-shelled. 



" Between the 12th and 14th of June, the sea-cows 

 come up from the sea ; and the bulls signalize it by a 

 universal, spasmodic, desperate fighting among them- 

 selves. 



" The strong contrast between the males and females 

 in size and shape is heightened by the air of exceeding 

 peace and amiability which the latter possess. 



" The cows appear to be driven on to the rookeries by 

 an accurate instinctive appreciation of the time in which 

 their period of gestation ends ; for in all cases marked 

 by myself, the pups were born soon after landing, some 

 a few hours after, but usually a day or two elapses before 

 delivery. 



" The cows seem to haul in compact bodies from the 

 water up to the rear of the rookeries, never scattering 

 about over the ground ; and they will not lie quiet in any 

 position outside the great mass of their kind. This is 

 due to their intensely gregarious nature, and for the 

 sake of protection. They also select land with special 



