SEA-LIOXS. 



Thebe have been kept in the Gardens for many years 

 several kinds of the so-called sea-lions. 



Their principal food is mostly whiting, but I have 

 never observed any of them masticate their food, they 

 swallow it at a gulp. 



I was rather curious to know, in the event of one of 

 the sea-lions capturing a large fish, what the creature 

 would do. In order to satisfy myself upon this point, I 

 procured a large codfish weighing about 16 lbs. ; this I 

 gave to the male sea-lion. The beast seized it near the 

 head, and, by a most violent jerky movement from side 

 to side, tore a large mouthful out from the fish : this 

 process he again and again repeated, and, by so knocking 

 about and crushing the fish, it was in less than half-an- 

 hour entirely consumed. 



He never attempted to use the front limbs to hold or 

 assist in tearing it to pieces, but simply, by the bite and 

 sharp jerk, disengaged the various portions. 



SEA-LIOX AT CKEMORXE. 



In 1865 I gave the following interesting particulars 

 respecting the seal living in Cremome Gardens. In size 

 it is larger than a full-grown mastiff dog, the neck very 

 long and thick, the head rather narrow, but otherwise 



159 



