Zoology.} NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Mammalia. 



The bull's voice or noise is guttural, and, when angry, sounds something like 

 " oough oough ;" the noise is much heavier than any animal I know. When trying 

 to pacify the cows it sounds like " yah yah," said quick and short. The noise of the 

 cow is very much like a cow of the bovine species. The pup bleats like a lamb. 



Their sight is not so good, so it is generally said. I think, myself, their sight 

 good enough, but they not smelling man don't think he will harm them ; when 

 they get the least scent they are off like a shot. 



During the pupping season they keep up an incessant noise during the night, 

 and generally keep quiet during the day. They look clumsy and awkward on the 

 rocks, but they are very lively when on the move. 



I consider them as quick in their movements as any fish that swims. They 

 strike at one another with the rapidity of lightning. I have seen one bull prevent 

 another from landing for several hours. They move along by drawing the hinder 

 part of the body forward and under, and then giving a jump and push forward. 



If they are disturbed before they pup, they will leave the rock and go to another. 



The cow has six teats, I think, which they draw into the udder or body when 

 not suckling their young. The milk is very white and strengthening. Should a 

 cow die or be killed, her pup is suckled by the other cows. This I am told is the 

 case, but I can't vouch for it. All I write is my experience on the Seal Rocks, off 

 " The Nobbies," at Phillip Island, Victoria. 



I can't say whether they inhabit these rocks all the year or not, but don't think 

 so. I have heard Ross say they do not. 



As regards their habits, fur, ears, &c, &c, the only difference being in the colour ; 

 some are darker than others. 



They are found along the coast, as far as I know, from Phillip Island to Wilson's 

 Promontory. Nearly all the islands in Bass's Straits are inhabited by seals. 



I know of no other fur or eared seal ; in fact there is no other seal about here. 



(Signed) George Ardill, 



Mounted Constable. 



The large bull above referred to, although 7 ft. 9 ins. long, had 

 the epiphyses of the limb bones quite loose, as if young ; the 

 skull bones were, however, much more powerfully crested than in 

 those previously described in Decade IV. 



The following are the detailed measurements : — 









Ft. 



ins. 



Length from tip of snout to extremity 



of tail 



... 7 



9 



„ from tip of snout to edge of lip 



... 



... 



31 





, from tip of snout to occiput 





1 



2 





, from tip of snout to edge of front of pectoral 



... 3 



9 





, between eyes across forehead 



... ... 







H 





, from tip of snout to eye 



... 



... 



H 





, from tip of snout to ear 



... 







11 





, of pectoral 



... 



2 



H 





, ofear 



... 



... 



2* 





, of tail 



... ... 







3 





, of hind fin 



... ... 



1 



n 



Greatest width of hind fin... 





1 



n 



Length of Whiskers 



... 







n 



Gir 



th in front of shoulder ... 



... 



... 6 



10 



[ 10] 



