44 ■ THE SEALS AND WALRUSES. 



than the Fur Seals, landing during the months of May and June. They advance but little above 

 high tide-mark, and those of all ages land together. The strongest males drive out the weaker and 

 monopolize the females and continue with them till September. They go with them into the water 

 whenever they are disturbed, and also watch over the young. When in the water they swim about 

 the young and keep them together until they have an ppportunity to land again. The females also 

 keep near, rushing hither and thither, appearing first on one side and then on the other of the 

 groups of young, constantly uttering a deep, hoarse growl at the intruder whenever they come to 

 the surface. When left undisturbed they all soon land again, preferring to spend the greater 

 portion of their time at this season on the shore. During the breeding season they visit the same 

 parts of the shore as the Fur Seals, but the Sea Lions, by their superior size and strength, crowd 

 out the Seals, the latter passively yielding their places without presuming to offer battle to their 

 formidable visitors. After having been disturbed the Sea Lions continue lor some time in a state 

 of unrest, occasionally uttering a low moaning sound, as though greatly distressed. Even after 

 the breeding season they keep close to the shore near the breeding station until the severe weather 

 of January. After this time they are seen only in small groups till the shores are free from snow 

 and ice in the spring." 



21. THE CALIFORNIA SEA LION. 



Geographical distribution. — The exact boundaries of the habitat of Zaloplms califomianus 

 cannot at present be given. The only specimens I have seen are from the coast of California and 

 its islands, from San Diego and San Nicholas Island northward to the Bay of San Francisco. 

 Captain Scammon (see infra, pp. 301, 302) twice alludes incidentally to its ijresence "along the 

 Mexican and Californian coasts," and Dr. Veatch states that "Sea Lions" (which he calls " Otaria 

 juhata,^^ but which are, almost beyond doubt, the present species) had populous breeding stations 

 twenty years ago, and doubtless have still, en Cerros or Cedros Island, iu about the latitude of 

 28|°, off the Lower California coast. Whether they occur southward of this point at the present 

 time I am unable to state, but should infer that such was the case from Scammon's allusion to 

 their capture along the "Mexican" coast. In any case, it appears probable that in Dampier's time 

 they ranged as far south as the Chametly and Tres Marias Islands, respectively iu latitudes about 

 23° and 21°, at which points he saw " Seals" in the year 1686. In describing the Chametly Islauds 

 (the most northerly of the two groups mentioned by him under this name), situated oft' the west 

 coast of Mexico in latitude 23° 11', he says, "The Bays about the Islands are sometimes visited 

 with Seals; and this was the first place where I had seen any of these Animals, on the North side 

 of the Equator, in these Seas. For the Fish on this sandy Coast lye most iu the Laguues or Salt- 

 Lakes, and Mouths of Rivers; For this being no rocky Coast, where Fish resort most, there seems 

 to be but little Food for the Seals, unless they will venture upon Cat- Fish."' 



He also met with Seals at the Tres Marias Islauds (in latitude "21° 5'"), and consequently 

 two degrees south of the Chametly Islauds, in describing one of which islands, named by him St. 

 George's Island, he says: "The Sea is also pretty well stored with Fish, and Turtle or Tortoise, 

 and Seal. This is the second place on this Coast where I did see any Seal: and this place hel])S 

 to confirm what I have observed, that they are seldom seen but where there is plenty of Fish."- 



It is of course not certain that the Seals here alluded to are Zalophus californiunus, since the 

 Sea Elephant of the California coast also occurs at Cedros Island, and probably still lurther south, 

 the two species having apparently about the same range. If they had been the latter, Dampier 

 would probably have made some allusion to their large size. 



'A New Voyage rouad the World, Sth ed., vol. i. 170!, pp. \.'81, 264. 

 •ilbid., p. 276. 



