THE CALIFORNIAN SEA-LION 155 



produced by the great assemblages which collect in the breeding-season 

 is something appalling. It breeds on the Californian coast from May 

 to August, and after breeding most of the animals disperse in search 

 of food, until only a few remain about their haunts. The males fight 

 previously for the females, and have so much trouble in securing 

 places and keeping their harems together — for they each rejoice in 

 securing as many wives as possible — that they have to dispense with 

 feeding for a time, not being able to get to sea. Their courage is 

 extraordinary, and so is their toughness and endurance — indeed, a herd 

 has been driven over cliffs sixty feet high, and then escaped into the 

 sea after the fall. 



Many are destroyed for the sake of their oil, and the hide is also 

 of value. This Sea-Lion, like the group generally, does well in 

 captivity, and is the species usually seen in menageries, where they 

 are a great attraction to visitors, and show much docility and intelli- 

 gence. On some occasions they have bred. Those in the London 

 Zoological Gardens live in peace with. Penguins, although sea-birds 

 form part of their natural prey ; but I have seen one amuse itself by 

 teasing a Penguin, pulling it back by the tail whenever it tried to get 

 out of the pond — a proceeding which the bird did not take in very 

 ill part, for when the Sea-Lion tired of its fun, it was in no great 

 hurry to land. 



Altogether there are about nine species of the Sea-Lions {OtariidcB), 

 and they are very widely distributed, being found in most seas except 

 the "North Atlantic and the warm waters of South-Eastern Asia, 

 where no pinnipeds of any sort are found. They are all much alike 

 in general appearance and habits, but differ somewhat in size, voice, 

 and in the character of the coat, though this is not perceptible in the 

 living animal, or indeed in the dead one, without close examination. 



About half the species are what are called " Fur-Seals " — that is, 

 they have under the coarse hair, which is all that can be seen externally, 

 the beautifully soft under-fur which is the " sealskin " so familiar as 

 a luxurious article of winter attire. To make the skins suitable for 

 this, all the outer hair has to be removed. The southern species of 



