62 
MEMOIR OF PENNANT. 
the whole shore, attended with hideous growls, their 
note of war. They are very tenacious of life, and 
■will hve a fortnight after receiving such wounds 
as would soon destroy any other animal. 
“ The particular cause of disputes among these 
irrascihle animals are the following : — The first and 
greatest is when an attempt is made to seduce any 
of their mistresses, or a young female of the family. 
A battle is the immediate consequence of the in- 
sult ; the unhappy vanquished instantly loses his 
whole seraglio, who desert him for the victorious 
hero. The invasion of the station of another, gives 
rise to fresh conflicts ; and the third cause is the 
interfering in the disputes of others. The battles 
they wage are very tremendous ; the wounds they 
inflict, very deep, like the cut of a sabre. At the 
conclusion of an engagement, they fling themselves 
into the sea to wash oflF the blood. 
“ Besides their notes of war, they have several 
others ; when they lie on shore, and are diverting 
themselves, they low like a cow ; after victory, they 
chirp like a cricket ; on a defeat, or after reeeivdng 
a wound, mew like a cat. Common seals and sea 
otters stand in great awe of these animals, and shun 
their haunts. They, again, are in equal awe of the 
leonine seals, and do not care to begin a quarrel in 
their sight, dreading the intervention of such for- 
midable arbitrators, who likewise possess the first 
place on the shore. The great old animals are in 
no fear of mankind, unless they are suddenly sur- 
