THE SEA LION. 



125 



We are acquainted, however, with only two genera,* one of which {Otaria jubata) 

 inhabits the coast of South America, and the other {Eumetopias Stelkri) we have 

 met with between the tropical lines of the Pacific, from the Galapagos Islands — 

 which are situated about the equator — northward on the west coast of North 

 America nearly to Behring Strait, and westward to the Island of Saghalien on the 

 coast of eastern Siberia. The first -named genus has a short, rounded head, prom- 

 inent above the eyes, and a shaggy mane, which imparts a resemblance to the king 

 of beasts ; hence the appropriate name, Sea Lion, which was given it when first 

 described. 



The Uumetopias Stelkri is of more symmetrical proportions than the Otaria 

 jubata, and very nearly resembles the Fur Seal, more particularly the males ; and. 



* Since the publication of the article "About 

 Sea Lions," in the Overland Monthly of Septem- 

 ber, 1871, we have had opportunity of making 

 additional observations upon these animals at 

 the Farallone Islands, where we saw the largest 

 females we have ever met with on the California 

 coast. Hence, what we have formerly taken to 

 be the Eumatopias Slelleri may prove to be the 

 Zalophus GiUespii?; but, if such be the fact, both 

 species inhabit the coast of California, at least 

 as far south as the Farallones. Moreover, both 

 species, if we may be allowed the expiression, 

 herd together in the same rookeries. On mak- 

 ing a series of observations upon the outward 

 forms of Sea Lions, it will be found that a 

 confusing variety exists in the figures of these 

 very interesting animals, especially in the shape 

 of the head : some having a short muzzle, with 

 a full forehead ; others with forehead and nose 

 somewhat elongated ; and still others of a mod- 

 ified shape, between the two extremes. 



Within the past five years, several observers 

 have assured me that the Sea Lions of the 

 north, particularly those of St. Paul's Island, 

 Behring Sea, were much larger than those on 

 the coast of California; but this information 

 proves to be incorrect, for the same obsei-vers, 

 after visiting the island a second time, and in- 

 vestigating the matter more thoroughly, have 

 arrived at the conclusion that the male Sea 



Lions there found will rarely exceed eleven feet 

 in extreme length ; while on the coast of Cali- 

 fornia, animals of that length are frequently 

 met with, and, as before stated, there is no 

 lack of cases where the animals have reached 

 the length of twelve feet, and an instance is 

 known, as stated by Professor Davidson, of the 

 U. S. Coast Survey, where the specimen meas- 

 ured fifteen feet from tip to tip. In any event, 

 thei'e is no further question about the northern 

 Sea Lions exceeding in size the Sea Lions of 

 California, as those inhabiting the last-named 

 region are at least fully equal in magnitude to 

 their congeners of the north. The accompany- 

 ing figures may convey a better idea of their 

 forms than a written description. 



Doubts have been expressed as to the mi- 

 gratory habits of the Sea Lion ; but we are fully 

 convinced that there are indi^dduals, at least, 

 among all the northern herds, that change from 

 the cold latitudes to the tropics, as we have 

 killed several of the animals upon the southern 

 coast of California, during the month of June, 

 in which were found arrow or spear heads, such 

 as are used by the northern sea -coast natives. 

 Professor Davidson states that in June, 1870, a 

 spear -head, such as is used by the natives of 

 Alaska, was found in a large male Sea Lion, 

 taken at Point Arenas, in latitude 39°, on the 

 coast of California. 



