152 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE, 



tior. The family of the Otaridse, includes the Eared Seals, 

 the Northern Sea Lion and the Northern Sea Bear. The Eared 

 Seal is distinguished from the true seal, as his name implies 

 by the possession of external ears. 



Sea Lions. Mr. Theodore Lyman, who had excellent op- 

 portunities of observing the habits of the Sea Lions on the 

 Seal Rocks of San Francisco, furnished Mr. Allen with a 

 graphic account of their movements, from which we quote the 

 following: "As they approach to effect a landing, the head 

 only appears decidedly above water. This is their familiar 

 element and they swim with great speed and ease, quite 

 unmindful of the heavy surf, and of the breakers on the 

 ledges. In landing they are apt to take advantage of a 

 heavy wave which helps them to get the forward flippers on 

 terra firma. As the wave retreats they begin to struggle up 

 the steep rocks, twisting the body from side to side, with a 

 clumsy worm-like motion, and thus alternately work their 

 flippers into positions, where they may force the body a 

 little onward. At such times they have a general appearance 

 of sprawling over the ground. It is quite astonishing to see 

 how they will go up surfaces having even a greater inclina- 

 tion than 45" and where a man would have to creep with 

 much exertion. In their onward path they are accompanied 

 by the loud barking of all the seals they pass; and these 

 cries may be heard a great distance. They play among 

 themselves continually by rolling on each other and feigning 

 to bite ; often too, they will amuse themselves by pushing ofiF 

 those that are trying to land. All this is done in a very cum- 

 brous manner, and is accompanied by incessant barking. As 

 they issue from the water their fur is dark and shining; but as 

 it dries, it becomes of a yellowish brown. Then they appear 

 to feel either too dry or too hot, for they move to the nearest point 

 from which they may tumble into the sea. I saw many roll oflF 

 a ledge at least twenty feet high, and fall like so many huge 

 brown sacks into the water, dashing up showers of spray." 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



