224 A VOYAGE TO BooK^irt 



extremity of the belly, and at the time of coition 

 the male and female place themfelves on their tails^ 

 v/ith their faces inward, em.bracing each other with 

 their fms, which, on this occafion, fiipply the place of 

 arms. The female brings forth and fuckles her youngr 

 111 the fame manner as terreftrial creatures ^ but has 

 never above one or two at a time. 



The largefh fpecies are by fome called fea lions, 

 but in thelc feas their general name is Lobos de 

 Aceyte, or oil wolves: becaufe when they move they 

 appear like a fldn full of oil, from the motion of the 

 vaft quantity of fat, or blubber, of which their enor-^ 

 mo us body confuls. And though oil is made from all 

 the fpecies, none yield it in proportion to thefe ; in- 

 deed they condft of little elfe. I was once entertained 

 with a particular circumftance relating to this Ipecies. 

 A failor having wounded one, it immediately plunged 

 itfelf into the fea j but had hardly tinged the water 

 with its blood, when it was furrounded in an inftant 

 by fiioals of the other two fpecies, who attacked 

 and devoured it in a few minutes, which was not 

 the cafe with the other fpecies which, when wound- 

 ed, though they aifo plunged into the water, yet 

 the fight of their blood had no effeft on others ; nor 

 "were they ever attacked. They are mifchievous, and 

 tlieir bite the more dangerous, as they never let go 

 their hold ; but they are heavy, torpid, and fluggifh ; 

 nor can they turn their heads without great difficulty. 

 They were fo far from avoiding our men, that they 

 were obliged to ftrike them with flicks to make 

 them move out of their way. The cry of their 

 young very nearly refembles the bleating of a flieep ; 

 but when they all join, as it were in concert, the 

 noife is infupportable. They are the chief food of 

 the dogs, who after killing them, take off their 

 fiiin with great dexterity. In their attack, they 

 aim always at the throat; and v/hen they have de- 

 ftroyed the creature, they tear the fkin all round 



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