THE SEA-LION 283 



or even four months, an uninterrupted fast, being 

 nourished wholly by the absorption of the fat of their 

 own bodies, so that at the end of the breeding season 

 — the beginning of August — they have become quite 

 weak and emaciated. They have also to abstain entirely 

 from water during this fast. 



As to their courage and determination in refusing to 

 leave a chosen station, Mr. Elliott repeatedly tried to 

 drive them away, and to put their courage to a test, he 

 one day walked up to within twenty feet of a male, 

 which had four females with him, and peppered him 

 with dust shot. His bearing, in spite of the noise, smell 

 of powder, and the pain he must have felt, did not change 

 in the least from the usual attitude of determined 

 defence which nearly all the males assume when att.acked 

 with showers of stones and noise. He would dart out 

 right and left and catch the females, which timidly 

 attempted to run away after each report, and fling and 

 drag them back to their places ; then, stretching himself 

 up to his full height, he looked Mr. Elliott directly and 

 defiantly in the face,, roaring and spitting most vehe- 

 mently. He next made various little charges of ten or 

 fifteen feet at his assailant, afterwards retreating to his 

 old position which he would not go back from, seeming 

 resolved to hold his own or die in the attempt. But 

 though thus covirageous and persevering in defence, the 

 sea-lion never took the offensive beyond the boundary of 

 his station, so far as Mr. Elliott observed. 



One pup is born at a time, and the mother's milk is 

 abundant, rich, and creamy. But she seems very 

 apathetic with her oflTspring. The observer before re- 

 ferred to never saw a female caress or fondle her cub, 

 and if it had strayed but a short distance beyond the 

 bounds of the harem, it might be killed before the 



