74 



FUR-SEALS. 



[1823/ 



hard to refute trie idea of such a sympathy in the human race, there 

 are hundreds of credible witnesses ready to bear testimony to its ex- 

 istence in this particular species of marine animals. 



The striking disparity of size between the male and female is also 

 worthy of remark. The large male is about seven feet in length, 

 whereas the female never exceeds four feet. The large males are not 

 the most numerous ; but, being the most powerful, they are enabled to 

 keep in their possession all the females. At the time of parturition, 

 the number of males attending one female is in the proportion of about 

 one to a dozen ; a proof that these animals are the greatest polyga- 

 mists in the world, not even excepting the Turks. That they are gre- 

 garious and social is evident to the most superficial observer who 

 surveys their rookeries, where they herd together in classes, and at 

 different periods. 



Warmed by the cheering influence of an antarctic spring, the males 

 of the largest size go on shore about the first of November, corres- 

 ponding to our May, and there wait the arrival of the females, which 

 happens about the first of December. This of course is an annual as- 

 signation, and occurs as regularly as the migration of our northern 

 shad from the ocean to the fresh-water rivers, for purposes perfectly 

 analogous. As soon as the female seal makes her appearance at the edge 

 of the beach, one of the most gallant of the males immediately takes 

 her under his protection. It seldom happens, however, that he is not 

 obliged to sustain his right by one or more serious combats with his 

 rivals. While the males are fighting in the most desperate manner, 

 the object of their bloody feud sits calmly looking on, contemplating 

 the fray with apparent delight, and no little self-complacency. I have 

 some reason to believe that the same feeling has been evinced by 

 females of a higher species ; but on this head I do not presume to 

 speak positively : the seal battles I have seen, and studied the coun- 

 tenance of their object ; who voluntarily yields herself to the con- 

 queror as soon as the contest is decided, at the same time casting a 

 look of ineffable contempt upon his vanquished rival. 



The proud victor now conducts his lovely prize from the late scene 

 of contention up to the rookery prepared for her accommodation ; and 

 this he does with a courtesy and tenderness of manner from which 

 some husbands might derive a useful lesson. At almost every step he 

 politely bows or nods to his new bride, and frequently touches her lips 

 with his own. When the female has selected her lodgings, and become 

 settled in the rookery, her partner is unremitting in his cares to afford 

 her protection, and render her situation comfortable ; nor does she 

 evince the slightest indications of jealousy while he is showing the 

 same polite attentions to a dozen other wives ! Here, 1 believe, my 

 former comparison does not exactly hold good. 



By the last of December, all the females have accomplished the 

 purpose for which they came on shore. In this process, however, 

 they evidently endure a great deal of pain ; and the males appear to be 

 much affected by their sufferings, — redoubling their affectionate atten- 

 tions, and adopting various expedients to relieve their distress. 



The sense of smell, as well as that of hearing, in these animals is 



