544 



, SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



[Mammalia. 



On the occasion of my former visit, in February, 1907, the females had retired 

 far into the bush, often to considerable heights^ and we frequently came across them 

 long distances from the shore. The breeding season was evidently close at hand, 

 and we found a mother on the beach with her cub. The sailors of the " Tutanekai " 

 attempted to secure the young one, but it was so determinedly defended by 

 the mother that only the overwhelming number of men, who by diverting her 

 attention first in this direction, then in that, enabled them to carry off the 

 baby. , The mother was driven into the waves, but kept close to the shore. On 



Pig. 2. — Sea-lion (Arctocepltutnx Jiookeri), the Snares. 



being liberated, the young one attempted to hide itself under a rock, and, as 

 we moved away, the mother came ashore to her offspring. During my later 

 visit, in November, the females had not secluded themselves ; the young are 

 evidently, therefore, born early in the year. Hutton states that the seal breeds 

 in February. 



The male, or sea-lion, is a large bulky animal of dark-brown colour, and the 

 old bulls have a thick mass of long hair, disposed mane-like over the neck and 

 shoulders. The female, or sea-bear, is smaller and sleeker, and grey in colour. She 

 is not so ferocious as the male, unless she has a young one by her side, when she 



