SEA-LIONS AND SEA-BEARS 303 



The largest of the southern eared seals is the Patagonian or Falkland sea-lion 

 (Otaria jubata), in the old males of which the hair of the neck is elongated into a 

 kind of mane. The northern range of this handsome species — now greatly reduced 

 in numbers — extends to the estuary of the Rio de la Plata on the east, and to 

 the equator on the west side of the continent. Adult males are golden brown in 

 colour, but females are greyer. Both sexes, as well as the young, are darker on 

 the feet than elsewhere ; the young being deep chocolate-brown during their first 

 year, but growing paler later. During the pairing-season, the old males fight each 

 other fiercely, while the females look placidly on. At this season the old males 

 utter loud, long, occasionally interrupted, roars instead of the deep growls which 

 form their ordinary cry. They are extremely savage during the pairing-season, 

 and defend themselves resolutely against attacks. Many of these sea-lions inhabit 

 more northerly latitudes for the rest of the year, and spend the months from July 

 to November on the Falklands. Towards the end of the year, about the middle of 

 the southern summer, the females give birth to their young, of which but one is 

 produced by each parent in a season. This sea-lion, which was discovered by 

 Magellan in 1579, was one of the first-known members of its family, as it was also 

 the first to be exhibited in London. All these seals are not only of extreme agility 

 in the water, but likewise display considerable intelligence. 



The second Antarctic species is Hooker's sea-lion (0. hookeri), first discovered 

 on the Auckland Islands, south of New Zealand, and distinguished by the nearly 

 straight profile of the head. A third member of the group, the Australian sea-lion 

 (0. lobata), does not appear to range so far south as its relatives. In regard to the 

 character of its coat this species, which is classed as a hair-seal, tends to connect 

 the more typical sea-lions, or hair-seals, with the fur-seals, or sea-bears, for in early 

 life it is furnished with a thick under-fur, like that of the fur-seals, but this dis- 

 appears in the adult. A well-known colony of these sea-lions on " Seal Rocks," in 

 Bass Strait, is in flourishing condition under Government protection. In November 

 1908 a party of naturalists left Melbourne for a cruise in Bass Strait, and one of 

 their number gave the following account of their visit to the sea-lions : — " As we 

 approached this haunt of the seals, hundreds of the animals could be seen in the 

 water, and from the rocks came, borne on the wind, the sound of their voices. 

 The rookery presented a ' moving spectacle,' as we surveyed it through binoculars 

 from the steamer's deck. Huge brown forms were clambering among the pools 

 and darting in and out of the surf, while sleek cubs lay basking in the sunlight 

 beside their anxious mothers." 



Of sea-bears there seem to be four southern species, all of which differ from 

 their northern relative by their sharper and more depressed muzzles, and the 

 shorter flaps of skin projecting beyond the toes of their flippers. Of these, the 

 South American species (0. australis) frequents the coasts of the American main- 

 land as well as the South Shetlands, the Falklands, and Kerguelen Island, in all 

 of which latter localities it is more numerous than on the mainland. The second 

 species, the Cape fur-seal, or sea-bear (0. pusilla), is easily recognised by the great 

 length of the bristles on the upper lip. Still not uncommon on several of the 

 islands off the African coast, this seal appears to have formerly visited Tristan da 

 Cunha, midway between the Cape and South America. In the New Zealand fur- 



