THE CALIFOENIA SEA LION: HABITS. 45 



The species of Zalophus occurring in Japan has been by some writers considered to be the 

 same as the Californian one; but, though doubtless closely allied, its affinities, as will be noticed 

 later (see infra, p. 293), ajjpear to be not as yet satisfactorily determined. As Zalophus califor- 

 nianus has not yet been detected on the American coast north of California, its occurrence on 

 the Asiatic coast seems hardly to be expected. 



This species has hitherto been believed to be free from any serious complications of synonymy, 

 and to have been first brought to the notice of the scientific world by McBain in 1858. Allen has, 

 however, shown that it was noticed in 1822 by Choris and described by Lesson under the name of 

 Otaria cali/orniana. 



Habits. — Several more or less full accounts of the habits of the Californian Sea Lions have 

 been given by difi:erent writers, who have, however, failed to distinguish the two species occurring 

 along the Californian coast, and consequently their descriptions are not wholly satisfactory. The 

 large northern species certainly occurs, and rears its young, as far south as the Farallones, but 

 probably exists there only in small numbers, while I have seen no evidence of its presence at Santa 

 Barbara Island. Even Captain Scammon, in his account of the Sea Lions of California, has not 

 distinctly recognized the two species occurring there, and his description doubtless refers in part 

 to both species, but unquestionably relates mainly to the present one.' His " Sketch of a sealing 

 season upon Santa Barbara Island," in 1852, presumably relates exclusively to Zalophus califor- 

 nianus, but in addition to this I quote a few paragraphs from his general account of " the Sea Lion," 

 since it is the testimony of a trustworthy eye-witness. 



"On approaching an island, or point, occupied by a numerous herd," he observes, "one first 

 hears their long, plaintive howlings, as if in distress ; but when near them, the sounds become more 

 varied and deafening. The old males roar so loudly as to drown the noise of the heaviest sur- 

 among the rocks and caverns, and the younger of both sexes, together with the ' clapmatches,' 

 croak hoarsely, or send forth sounds like the bleating of sheep or the barking of dogs; in fact, 

 their tumultuous utterances are beyond description. A rookery of matured animals presents a 

 ferocious and defiant appearance; but usually at the approach of man they become alarmed, and, 

 if not opposed in their escape, roll, tumble, and sometimes make fearful leaps from high precipitous 

 rocks to hasten their flight. Like all the others of the Seal tribe, they are gregarious, and gather 

 in the largest numbers during the 'pupping season,' which varies in different latitudes. On the 

 California coast it is from May to August, inclusive, and upon the shores of Alaska it is said to be 

 from June to October, during which period the females bring forth their young, nurse them, asso- 

 ciate with the valiant males, and both unite in the care of the little ones, keeping a wary guard, 

 and teaching them, by their own parental actions, how to move over the broken, .«limy, rock- 

 bound shore, or upon the sandy, pebbly beaches, and to dive and gambol amid the surf and rolling 

 groundswells. At first the pups manifest great aversion to the water, but soon, instinctively, 

 become active and playful in the element; so by the time the season is over, the juvenile creatures 

 disappear with the greater portion of the old ones, only a few of the vast herd remaining at the 

 favorite resorts throughout the year. During the pupping season, both males and females, so far 

 at we could ascertain, take but little if any food, particularly the males, though the females have 

 been observed to leave their charges and go off", apparently in search of subsistence, but they do 

 not venture far from theii' young ones. That the Sea Lion cao go without food for a long time is 

 unquestionable. One of the superintendents of Woodward's Gardens informed me that in 



' That Captain ScammoD coafounded the two species of northern Sea Lious is evident not only from his published 

 writings, but from his having transmitted to the National Museum specimens ot Zalophus from Santa Barbara Island, 

 labeled by him " Mumetopias Slelleri." 



