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



The general outline of the body, and the shape of the fins, are exactly the 

 same. They were more tierce towards us, and their females would die in 

 defending their young. Wc observed that these sea bears and the lions, 

 thongli sometimes encamped on the same beach, always kept wide asunder, 

 and iiad no ccjnimunication with each otiier. Dr. Sparman and in\scif were 

 near being attacked by one of the sea bears on a clitf, where several iuindreds 

 were assembled, and where all seemed to wait the issue of the tight. The 

 doctor had discharged his musket at a bird, and w^as gxjing to pick it up, 

 when this old bear growled and snarled, and seemed ready to oppose. As 

 soon as I was near enough I shot the surly creature dead. At that instant 

 the whole herd, seeing their champion fallen, hurried to the sea; and many 

 of them hobbled along with such precipitation as to leap down bctw ecu forty 

 and fifty perpendicular feet upon the pointed rocks on the shore, without 

 receiving any hurt ; which may be attriljuted to their fat easily gi\ing way, 

 and their hide being remarkably tough." ^Speaking afterwards of those he 

 saw at New Georgia, he remarks, '' They were all of the kind callctl sea 

 bears, and were more fierce than any we had seen at New Year's Isles, antl 

 did not care to run out of oiu' way. The young cubs barked at us, and ran 

 at our heels as we passed, trying to bite our legs." 



Wood Ivogcrs gives a sinular account of the disposition of those he met 

 with at the (iallipagos Islands. "A very large one made at me three several 

 times, and if I had not ha[)pened to have had a pike-staff, headed witii iron, 

 he might have killed me. I was on the level sand, when he came open- 

 mouthed at nic from the water, as fierce and quick as an angry dog let loose. 

 All the three times he made at me I struck the pike into his breast, wiiich 

 at last forced him to retire into the water, snarling with an ugly noise, and 

 showing his long teeth." 



One extract more, from Dampier's Voyage, will suffice to give a pretty 

 correct view of the size, disposition, and habits of these bears. "These 

 animals exist in thousands in the Island of Juan Fernandez. They are the 

 size of an ordinary calt', and their head is shaped like a dog's; their hair is 

 of difl'crent colors, as black, brownish-gray, and spotted, appearing very 

 smooth and agreeable when they first come out of the water. They have so 

 fine and short a fur, that I have seen nothing like it. There are always 

 round the island thousands in the bays, and going to and returning from the 

 sea. When a mile or two from shore, 3'ou observe that the island', and all 

 round it, is covered with them, some playing on the wave, and others bask- 

 ing on the shore. ^A'lien they come from sea, they bleat for their young 

 like sheeji, and pass by an infinity of others, till they come to their own cub. 

 The young resemble small dogs, and greatly prefer the land, but when 

 chased thence, they make for the sea as fast as the old ones, and swim very 



