262 Notes on the Life-History of Monachus Tropicalis, [March 
savage conflict for a moment or two, the heavy gnashing of their 
teeth as their powerful jaws closed giving us a lively idea of how 
unpleasant it would be to fall within their reach. Nevertheless, 
the whole aspect of the animals was one of indecision. Instead 
of stampeding when molested, they only roused themselves to 
action upon being individually attacked.: As another illustration 
of their lack of intellectual acuteness, I may mention that on the 
following morning we found several seals that had “hauled up” 
during the night among the dead ones surrounded by skinned 
carcasses. 
In the water they showed no particular curiosity in regard to 
a boat or its occupants, a curiosity usually so very marked among 
seals, nor did they disport themselves in play as does the harbor 
seal. That they are generally peaceful is borne out by their ap- 
pearance, very few scars of combat being observed, and some of 
these not unlikely inflicted by the myriads of sharks surround- ` 
ing the islands. The contents of the stomachs of several were 
examined, but nothing except fluids were found, which gave no 
clue to their food. It undoubtedly consists largely of fish: one 
in captivity was fed on this food and appeared to thrive well. 
They are greatly infested with intestinal parasites several inches 
in length, that shortly after death swarm out of anus and vagina, 
dying as they reach the air. On land or in shallow water the 
seal progresses by drawing forward the hind parts, thus throw- 
ing the line of the back into a strong curve, then pitching itself 
forward on to its breast to again repeat the same action. 
distance covered is usually about a foot, the difference between 
the chord of the arc and the horizontal length between the fore 
and hind flippers; but when this movement is violent the seal 
throws itself forward with so much force as to somewhat over- 
shoot this. The appearance of one moving is much like that 
` of an “inch-worm,”—a continual bobbing up and down of the 
middle of the back. One was noticed that, when under consid- 
erable excitement, evidently forgot how to run, but lay on its 
belly trying to scull through the sand with its hind flippers as 
though it were in the water. 
On the 29th of November last a small seal was captured alive 
near the city of Campeche ; but as we were busy getting away we 
did not obtain it. On our return the purchaser tried to dispose 
of it to us for one thousand dollars! and on my departure for 
