472 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, 



The Ursine SEAL, or SEA-BEAR, 



is much larger that the common Seal, being eight feet 

 in length, and weighing eight hundred pounds. 



Thefe animals are found among the iflands which lie 

 between Kamtfchatka and America; alfo on the coafts of 

 New Zealand, Staten Ifland, New Georgia, and Falk- 

 land's Iflands. — They lie in thoufands on the more, in 

 feparate families, each confifling of above an hundred. 

 One male will fometimes have fifty females, which he 

 guards with extreme jealoufy. They are exceffively fat 

 and indolent, fometimes fcarcely ever moving from the 

 place where they lie for the fpace of three months ; 

 during which time the females breed and fuckle their 

 young. If another approach their ftation, they are rouf- 

 ed from their fupinenefs : A battle enfues, which fre- 

 quently becomes general, and fpreads confufion through 

 the whole fhore. Thefe conflicts are extremely violent ; 

 and the wounds given are very deep, refembling a cut 

 with a fabre. 



