VERTEBRATA. 
to the fore-feet in this species being placed near tlie center of the body, it can sit erect, in an atti- 
tude much resembling that of a penguin. 
Genus OTxiRIA, or PLATYEHYNCHTJS : Platyrhynchus. — As several species of large seals 
have been confounded under the name of Sea-hear, so several have been included under the title 
of Sea-Lion. One of these, described by Forster, P. marinus, belonging to this genus, has a 
thick skin; hair reddish, yellowish, or dark brown; no fur or short woolly hair under the long 
hair; a mane on the neck of the male reaching to the shoulders; head small in proportion to 
the body, which is everywhere equally thick-looking, as Buffon describes it, "like a great cylin- 
der, more suited for rolling than walking;" ears conical, about six or seven lines long, cartilage 
firm and stiff, but yet rather curled at the margin ; upper lip overhanging the lower, both fur- 
nished with long, coarse, black whiskers, which become white with age; length from ten to 
fourteen feet; the females shorter and more slender. It is found along the shores of the Ant- 
arctic islands. Another species of sea-lion is the 0. jubata, found in Kamtschatka and the 
Kurile Islands; a third, the 0. leo7iina, is found in the Falkland Islands. Some authors also 
mention the Little Sea-Lion, Otaria 7nolossina, and the 0. Guerinii^ both of the Falkland 
Islands. 
FIGHT WITH A SEA-LION. 
These animals, even if of different species, seem to have a great resemblance. Captain Cook 
states that he did not find it perilous to go among them, for they either fled or stood still. The 
only danger was in going between them and the sea; for if they took fright at any thing they 
would come down in such numbers that the person in the way would be run over. When he and 
his party came suddenly upon them, or waked them out of their sleep, they would raise up their 
heads, snort and snarl, and look fierce, as if they meant to devour the intruder; but when the men 
advanced, the sea-hons always ran away. He states that the male is surrounded by twenty or 
thirty females, and that he is very careful to keep them all to himself, beating off every male 
that attempts to come to his flock. Others again had a less number, some no more than one or 
two; and here and there was seen one lying growling in a retired place, suffering neither males 
nor females to come near him. These he judged to be old and superannuated. 
Forster relates that the rocks along the shore in New Year's Harbor Avere covered with multi- 
tudes of sea-lions. He says that they Avere often seen to seize each other Avith an indescribable 
degree of rage, and that many of them had deep gashes on their backs, Avhich they had re- 
