222 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



Its form is protected l)y a very tliiek .'^kiii, wliieli is covered witli long, 

 close, and erect hair, under which is a coat of soft fur, of a reddish-lirown 

 color. Tiio hairs in the adult males are black, but become whitened with 

 age. The females are generally ash-colored, although they are frequently 

 seen with markings of brown. 



It has been remarked, as a curious circumstance, that these animals do not 

 seem attracted to tlie Asiatic coast, and only occasionally land thereon ; but 

 they crowd tiie islands along the American shores, in countless numbers. 

 As soon as spring Ijcgins to smile on the nortliern \vaters, tliey assemble in 

 tlu-onging multitudes among tlic Kurile Ishinds, in wdiicli they seem to 

 delight, and where they establish their commonwealth for the space of two 

 months. At tiiis period the females bring forth their young, which are 

 objects of great aflection to both sire and dam. They are polygamous, and 

 have a kind of patriarchal system, each male having from eight to fifty 

 females, which, together with the young, form a funily of more tlian a hun- 

 dred, o\er \\liicii the chief rides with despotic sway. Altliougli they lie in 

 thousands along tiie shore, the famiUes keep entirely separate, — a peculiarity 

 whicii is observalile even when tiiey are at sea. AVe have already referred to 

 tile cruel and t'Srannical disposition whicji tlie male sometimes exhibits to- 

 wards his wives, and tiieir tearfid submission and patience under the dreadful 

 chastisement he sometimes inflicts. 



Sucii animals as are destitute of females, and from age arc deserted by 

 them, retire int(j solitude, and live a S(5rt of hermit life, becoming exces- 

 sively pcevisli and quarrelsonie. So attaciied arc they to their selected sta- 

 tions, tiiat they will defend them against all aggressors, even at the cost of 

 life. If one [iercei\e another a|iproarh its scat, he instantly rouses himself, 

 and prepares for battle. l)uring the light they insensibly encroach on the 

 territory of others, so that the disecu'd spreads throughout the whole commu- 

 nity, the conflict becomes general, anil the shores resound with their notes of 

 war. Besides these war notes, they have several others. When they are in 

 a sportive mood, their voice is like the lowing of a cow ; when victorious in 

 battle, they chirp like a cricket, and complain and whine like a whelp on 

 receiving a wound. 



They swim with extraordinary flectness, at the rate of eight miles an hour, 

 and often on their back. If struck with a harpoon, they drag the boat over 

 the wave with great impetuosity, and sometimes succeed in sinking it. Kven 

 out of the water, the females, especially, run with such rapidity that he nuist 

 be a swift ruimcr who would overtake them. 



The ursine seal is the most courageous and daring of all the Phocida*. 

 It has no fear of man, and will fight him bravely to the last, in defence of 

 its life, and that of its wives and cubs. It is so tenacious of life, that, after 



