128 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



and shun their haunts. They again are in equal fear of the 

 Leonine seals, and do not care to begin a quarrel in their 

 presence, dreading the intervention of such formidable arbi- 

 trators, who likewise possess the first place on the shore. 



Steller's Sea-Lion, (Otaria Stelleri,) is about as large again as 

 the sea-bear, but its tawny hide, covered with short bristles, is- 

 without value in the far trade. To the Aleut, however, the 

 animal is of great use, for he covers his boat with its skin, 

 makes hi3 water-tight ka/mleika with its intestines, the soles of 

 his shoes with the webs of its feet, ornaments his cap with its 

 long beard hair, and feasts upon its fiesh. On all the coasts and 

 islands of the Pacific this sea-lion is found, from 61° N. lat. 

 to unknown southern limits, but nowhere in such numbers as 

 on the Pribilow Island, St. George, where its countless herds 

 afford a wonderful spectacle. The shapeless gigantic fat and 

 flesh-masses, awkward and unwieldy on land, cover, as far as- 

 the eye can reach, a broad, rocky, naked strand-belt, blackened 

 with oil. The sea-birds occupy the empty places between 

 the herds of the sea-lions, and fly fearlessly before the gaping 

 jaws of the huge monsters, without caring about their hideous 

 bellowing. In countless numbers they build their nests in the- 

 caves of the surf-beaten cliffs, and among the large boulders on 

 the shore, whose tops are whitened with their dung. A thick fog 

 generally spreads over the desolate scene, and the hollow roar- 

 ing of the breakers unites, with the screaming of the birds and 

 the bellowing of the sea- lions, to form a wild and melancholy 

 concert. 



Steller's sea-lion is furnished only with an erect and curly 

 hair-tuft at his neck, while a complete mane flows round the 

 breast of the sea-lion of the southern hemisphere, (Otcuriajubat a).. 

 The remainder of the body is covered with short smooth hairs, 

 or bristles. The sea-lioness has no mane, and is darker than the 

 male. The fore-fins have the appearance of large pieces of black 

 tough leather, showing, instead of nails, slight horny elevations ^ 

 the hind-fins, which are likewise black, have a closer resemblance 

 to feet, and the five toes are furnished with small nails. A for- 

 midable-looking beast, eleven feet long ! and well may the 

 Daturalist start, when, walking through the high tussack grass 

 of the Falkland Islands, he suddenly stumbles over a huge sea- 

 lion, stretched along the ground, and blocking up his path. 



