Or.DER V. THE CAENIVOEA. 215 



rapiility. According to scal-moralit}-, tlic victor is entitled to tiic liarcm ; 

 the t'cmales, who have been indifl'ercnt spectators of tlie struggle, otter no 

 resistance, but fjuictly submit to the new lord which tlie result of the com- 

 bat has given them. These seals, too, appear to have a rude sense of jus- 

 tice, and sternly rebuke and punish anything like foul play ; for if two 

 siiould attack one, others will hasten to interfere, and help the oppressed in- 

 dividual, expressing, in a niarke<l manner, their disapprobation of such dis- 

 honorable conduct. Sometimes tiiey form a ring round the combatants, to 

 see that the battle is fairly fought 



The cry of the female and the young male resembles the lowing of an ox ; 

 but in the adult males, the proboscis gives such an inflection to their voice, that 

 it is something like the kind of noise produced by gurgling. This hoarse and 

 singular cry, says the author of the "Joyr^r/e aux Tcrvcs Austy<(Irs,'''' is 

 heard at a great distance, and is truly wild and frightful : mingling w itli the 

 howling of the tempest during the stormy nights which often occur in those 

 dreary regions, no combination of terrific sounds can be conceived of more 

 calculated to fill the inexperienced traveller with a mysterious dread. And 

 yet these animals, notwithstanding their colossal &vic, and great strength, 

 and dreadful bellowings, are as docile and gentle of disposition ns children. 

 Human beings may mingle freely with them without molestation or the 

 least danger. They never attack man unless in self-defence, and after great 

 provocation. They are capable of considerable education and strong 

 attachment. On one occasion an English sailor selected a young one as a 

 pet, and treating it kindly for a \'c\v months, it became so tame that it 

 came at his call, allowed him to put his hand into its mouth and ride upon 

 its back. In a word, this gentle creature did all in its power for its pro- 

 tector, and bore everything from him without offence. Penrose, indeed, 

 affirms, " that his crew rode on these animals as they would do on horses, 

 and when they did not swim with sufficient speed, forced them to quicken 

 their progress by the spur." 



The elephant seal ditlers from most of the other species in many of its 

 habits. It avoids ice-islands and rocks, and loves to waddle or repose on 

 the sandy flats of the shores in the vicinity of fresh ponds, in wdiich they 

 plunge with extreme delight, and whose waters they drink with great appar- 

 ent pleasure. They dislike great heat, and avoid exposing themselves to 

 the direct raj-s of the sun, and, consequently, when lying on the beach dur- 

 ing the day, they completely cover themselves with sand, moistened by the 

 water of the sea; thus enveloped, they appear, at a little distance, like 

 enormous rocks. 



We have elsewhere spoken of the products of these seals, and their im- 

 portance in a commercial point of view, and described the manner in which 



