NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



degrees north latitude. The southern species is 

 larger than its cousin of the north, and it also 

 differs in skull structure. 



The Elephant Seal has a deep layer of blubber, 

 often six or seven inches thick under its skin, and the 

 oil is superior to whale oil. The greed of man has 

 nearly led to the extermination of this unique 

 mammal of the sea, and unless active measures are 

 taken to protect it against oil hunters, it will soon 

 be extinct. 



Sea Elephants attain a length of 20 to 22 feet, 

 and the girth of a large bull is as much as 16 feet. 

 Such an animal would yield 210 gallons of oil. 

 The females are much smaller than the males; 

 they do not exceed 10 feet in total length. The 

 hair is very short and close. It is not noticeable 

 until the animal is closely scrutinised. The colour 

 of the hair is a dirty yellowish- grey, darker on the 

 upper parts. The proboscis of the male takes the 

 form of a short trunk which can be expanded or 

 contracted at the will of the animal. The nostrils 

 are at the end of the trunk. The eye is large and 

 dark brown, ^ with a narrow ring of reddish white 

 encircling the iris. 



When on shore the Elephant Seal is a great 

 hulHng-looking animal, and dqes not show much 

 disposition to move even when prodded with a 

 stick. They crawl over the sand very slowly and 

 awkwardly, using only the fore flippers to help 

 them along. When moving, they wriggle with a 



228 



