Zoology.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Mammalia. 



young when attacked by man. The young are very easily tamed, 

 and one was going about the kitchen of the hotel at the time of my 

 visit like a rather lame dog, following the housekeeper everywhere 

 with affectionate pertinacity, and playing with a young kangaroo 

 and some other tame animals about the house with all the fun of a 

 kitten or young puppy. It would come when called like a dog, 

 and obviously liked to have its head stroked with the hand. 



Having told my friends, Trooper Ardill and the sealer, Ross, 

 that I should like to have their observations on the creature in 

 writing for publication, the former furnished me with the following 

 interesting account, which I give in his own words, conveying 

 Ross's observations and his own : — 



Cowes Police Station, 12th March 1880. 



In reply to your enquiries relative to the Seals which frequent the Seal Rocks 

 off Phillip Island: — The Seals come to the rocks about 1st October. The time of 

 bringing forth the pups is between 10th November and 10th December. They do 

 not commence to breed until they are three years old. The male (or bull) during the 

 pupping season will ascend the rocks and stop for one or two months without food, 

 and is extremely attentive to the female (or cow) and pups. When the females fight 

 and quarrel he restores order. The bull is very fat in the beginning of the season, 

 and yields from five to ten gallons of oil, and in three weeks after will hardly yield 

 one gallon, the yield of course depending on the age and size of the bull. The 

 cows are seldom killed, as they have very little fat. It is against the rule of sealers 

 to kill a cow or the pups. 



They live on fish of various kinds. I have found the backbones of fish 2 feet in 

 length. They eat leather-jackets, parrot fish, squid, &c. I found one backbone 

 2 feet 4 inches long ; it may have been a barracuta or pike \ I don't think it was a 

 shark. I have found a few joints of a shark's backbone. 



The bull is very furious at pupping season, and when disturbed will go into 

 the water and return in a few minutes. Out of season they go to sea in the 

 morning and return at night. When fighting they strike each other like the boar ; 

 their teeth are about \\ inches long, and cut terribly. I have seen cuts from 1 to 

 10 inches in length. 



The usual color is a yellowish-brown, although some have been seen that were 

 spotted, and some a beautiful grey.* 



They generally select flat, inaccessible rocks, or, where they are not disturbed, 

 they select the grassy patches. 



The cow generally brings forth one pup, sometimes two. They keep good 

 watch, and care affectionately for their offspring. They circle round them in rough 

 stormy weather, and keep them from any wash or sea that may come over the rocks. 

 I have seen three pups washed off the rocks, and the cows have immediately 

 followed and brought them on the rocks again in an astonishingly rapid manner. 

 I have also seen them catch a pup in their mouth, and throw them 10 feet high, 

 and never hurt them. 



* This is the variety figured in Decade IV., Plate 31. 

 Dec. Till. [ 9 ] B 



