210 CAENIVORA. 



of Eared Seals. There is a constant discharge of 

 water, or waterv liquid, from the eyes, even when asleep. 

 This is probably a provision of nature to keep the eye 

 moist, and to remove foreign substances. 



STELLEE'S SEA-LION. 



Eiimetopias stcUcri. 



This large Seal is chiefly valuable for its skin, which 

 is used by the natives for covering their boats. Very 

 few skins are imported into this country, commonly 

 about ten to twenty, and these are brought by the 

 Hudson's Bay Company and other North-West traders. 

 The price of 4s. 6d. hardly pays for the importation. 

 This Seal inhabits the Aleutian and Pribylov Islands, 

 and the North-West coast of America, and Elliott says 

 it is also found off the Island of Kadiak. 



The following are extracted from Elliott's Eeport on 

 the Pribylov Islands : — " The Sea-Lion rookery will he 

 found to consist of about ten to fifteen cows to the bull. 

 The cow seems at all times to have the utmost freedom 

 in movmg from place to place, and to start with its 

 young, picked up sometimes by the nape into the water, 

 and play together for a spell in the sea-wash, a move- 

 ment on the part of the mother never made hj the Fur 

 Seal, and showing in this respect much more attention 

 to its offspring." 



" The natives have a very high appreciation of the 

 Sea-Lion, or Sea-Yitchie, as they call it, and base their 

 regard upon the superior quality of the flesh, fat, and 

 hide, for making covers for their skin-boats, bidarkies, 

 and bidarsaks." 



"As I have before said, the Sea-Lion seldom hauls 



