NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



79 



ATLANTIC WALRUS. 



spawning salmon. Comparatively few Sea-Lions are now 

 found on the mainland coast of California. On the United 

 States Light-House reservations their slaughter is prohibited 

 by the Light-House Board. 



The California Sea-Lion is very similar in size, and, leaving 

 the old males out of consideration, it is almost the exact 

 counterpart in form of that apple of perpetual international 

 discord — the Alaskan "fur seal." The unfortunate fact that 

 the latter animal has become known as a "seal," has caused 

 much confusion in people's minds regarding the classifica- 

 tion of pinnipeds (fin-footed animals) generally. For this 

 reason, it is proper to observe at this point that: 



Sea-Lions have flat, triangular, naked front flippers, 

 without claws ; they have long necks, and carry their heads 

 high. There are nine species, of which the so-called "fur 

 seal" is one. 



Seals always have short and stubby front flippers, 

 which are covered with hair, and provided with claws. In 

 most species the hair is coarse and valueless. The seal has 

 a very short neck and by reason of the weakness of its 

 front flippers, it is not nearly so active nor so interesting 

 as the sea-lion. 



The Atlantic Walrus inhabits the arctic regions between 

 America and Europe, and it is estimated that not more than 

 ten specimens ever have been exhibited in captivity. Be- 

 cause of their unusual feeding habits. Walruses are very 



