THE SEA ELEPHANT: HABITS. 73 



Captain Scammon gives the length of a "new- born pup" as four feet. 



Habits. — We are indebted to Captain Scammon, who has fortunately had favorable oppor- 

 tunities for observation, for everything of importance that has thus far been recorded respecting 

 the habits of the Sea Elephant of California. "The habits of these huge beasts," he tells us,' 

 " when on shore, or loitering about the foaming breakers, are in many respects like those of the 

 Leopard Seals [Plioca vltulina]. Our observations on the Sea Elephants of California go to show 

 that they have been found in much larger numbers from February to June than during other 

 months of the year; but more or less were at all times found on shore ■ pon their favorite beaches, 

 which were about the islands of Santa Barbara, Cerros, Guadalupe, San Bonitos, Natividad, San 

 Eoque, and Asuncion, and some of the most inaccessible points on the mainland between Asuncion 

 and Cerros. When coming up out of the water, they were generally first seen near the line of surf; 

 theu crawling up by degrees, frequently reclining as if to sleep ; again moving up or along the 

 shore, appearing not content with their last resting place. In this manner they would ascend the 

 ravines, or 'low-downs,' half a mile or more, congregating by hundreds. They are not so active on 

 land as the Seals; but, when excited to inordinate exertion, their motions are quick — the whole 

 body quivering with their crawling, semi-vaulting gait, and the animal at such times manifesting 

 great fatigue. Notwithstanding their unwieldiness, we have sometimes found them on broken and 

 elevated ground, fifty or sixty feet above the sea. 



"The principal seasons of their coming on shore are, when they are about to shed their coats, 

 when the females bring forth their young (which is one at a time, rarely two), and the mating 

 season. These seasons for 'hauling up' are more marked in southern latitudes. The difi'erent 

 Ijeriods are known among the hunters as the 'pupping cow,' 'brown cow,' 'bull and cow,' and 

 'March bull' seasons;^ but on the California coast, either from the influence of climate or some 

 other cause, we have noticed young pups with their mothers at quite the opposite mouths. The 

 continual hunting of the animals may possibly have driven them to irregularities. The time of 

 gestation is supposed to be about three-fourths of the year. The most marked season we could 

 discover was that of the adult males, which shed their coats later than the younger ones and the 

 females. Still, among a herd of the largest of those fully matured (at Santa Barbara Island, in 

 June, 1852), we found several cows and their young, the latter apparently but a few days old. 



" When the Sea Elephants come on shore for the purpose of 'shedding,' if not disturbed they 

 remain out of water until the old hair falls off. By the time this change comes about, the animal 

 is supposed to lose half its fat; indeed, it sometimes becomes very thin, and is theu called a 

 ' slimskin.' 



"In the stomach of the Sea Elephant a few pebbles are found, which has given rise to the 

 saying that 'they take in ballast before going down' (returning to the sea). On warm and sunny 

 days we have watched them come up singly on smooth beaches, and burrow in the dry sand, 

 throwing over their backs the loose particles that collect about their fore limbs, and nearly covering 

 themselves from view; but when not disturbed, the animals follow their gregarious propensity, and 

 collect in large herds." "The largest number I ever found in one herd," he states in another 

 connection, "was one hundred and sixty -five, which lay promiscuously along the beach or up the 

 ravine near by." 



'Marine Mammals, 1874, pp. 117-119. See also Proc. Aead. Nat. Sci. Phila., lH6y, pp. 6;J-(i5, where the accouut 

 here qnoted was first published. See further J. Eoss Browne's "Resources of the Pacitio Coast" [Append. ], p. 129, where 

 the samt- anihor has also given a short account of ils hahits as oliserved at Cedros (or Cerros) Island in 1852. Also iin 

 article entitled "Sea-elephant Hunting," in the "Overland Moulhly," iii, pp. 112-117. Nov., 1870. 



^EefeiTing to the habits of the Southern Sea Elephant (Mavrorliinus leonimus), as he had "learned from ship- 

 masters who have takeu Seals about Kerguelen's Land, the Crozets, and Kurd's Island." See Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Phila., I'JSg, p 64. 



