128 MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



at a distance, it is difficult to distinguish between a fully matured Fur Seal and a 

 Sea Lion of ordinary size. The extreme length of the full-grown male Sea Lion 

 of the north may be set down at sixteen feet from tip of nose to end of posterior 

 flippers, and yield of oil at forty gallons ; but it is seldom they are found meas- 

 uring twelve feet from tip of nose to tip of tail, and the individual yield of oil 

 throughout the season would not exceed ten gallons. Its greatest circumference 

 would not be over eight feet, and its weight about one thousand pounds. Its head 

 and neck are more elongated, and the latter is destitute of the mane which is 

 characteristic of the Lion of the southern seas. Its mouth is armed with strong, 

 glistening, white teeth. Its projecting upper lip is furnished, on each side, with 

 strong, flexible whiskers, which are generally of a white, or yellowish -white color, 

 some of which grow to the length of eighteen inches. When the animal is either 

 excited by curiosity or anger, its eyes are full of expression ; and at such times 

 they appear large, but when the creature is dozing, these members have quite the 

 opposite appearance. Its ears are cylindrical at the root, tapering to a point, are 

 covered with short, fine hair, and lie nearly in a line with the body. Its limbs, 

 which are incased with a sort of thick shagreen, combine the triple functions of 

 legs, feet, and fins, and are. far better adapted to locomotion in the watery ele- 

 ment ; where, when excited, its movements are swift and graceful, while on the 

 land, the creature's imposing, though awkward traveling, requires great effort. Its 

 body is covered with short, coarse, shining hair. The color of the adult males is 

 much diversified ; individuals of the same rookery being quite black, with scatter- 

 ing hairs tipped with dull white, while others are of a reddish brown, dull gray, or 

 of light gray above, darker below. The adult female is not half the bulk of the 

 male, and its color is a light brown. One of the average size, taken at Santa Bar- 

 bara Island, coast of California, in the spring of 1871, measured six feet four 

 inches from tip of nose to tip of posterior flippers, and weighed one hundred and 

 eighty -two pounds. 



We submit the following measurements, etc. (in feet and inches), of a full- 

 grown male Sea Lion (No. 1), taken at the Farallone Islands, July 17th, 1872; of 

 an adult female Sea Lion (No. 2), taken at Santa Barbara Island, coast of Califor- 

 nia, April 12th, 1871 ; and of a male Sea Lion (No. 3), about ten months old, 

 taken at the last-named island, April 4th, 1872: 



No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. 



Length of animal from tip of nose to tip of posterior flippers, 12 6 4 4 10 



Length of posterior flippers 2 2 1 1 11 J 



Breadth of posterior flippers ( expanded ) 9 8 



Round the body behind the pectorals 7 3 3 2 8 



