MONINE SEAL. 
205 
Siovef. surrounded by them, for six .days. They 
were soon reconciled to him ; and would observe., 
with great calmness, what lie was doing, lie down 
near him, and even suffer him to seize and play 
with their cubs.—- They often dispute for the pos- 
session of females ; and he had an opportunity of 
seeing several of these conflicts. He once was 
witness to a duel between two males, which lasted 
three days, and in which one of them received 
above a hundred wounds. The ursine seals which 
were among them never interfered, hut always 
hastened out of the way of their battles. 
They bring forth only a single young one at a 
birth ; and, strange to say, the parents seem to 
exhibit towards this very little share of affection ; 
they sometimes tread it to death through careless- 
ness, and will suffer it to be killed before them 
without concern. The cubs are not sportive, like 
most other young animals, but seem entirely stu- 
pified by much sleep. The parents take them 
into the water, and teach them to swim : and when 
they are tired they climb on the back of their dam ; 
but the male often pushes them off to habituate 
them to this exercise. 
Each male has from two to four females, which 
he treats with great kindness ; and he seems very 
fond of their caresses. In their actions these ani- 
mals seem much allied to the ursine seals. The 
old ones bellow like bulls, and the young bleat 
like sheep. They live on fish, and several of the 
marine animals. During two of the summer 
months, the old males abstain almost entirely from 
eating, and indulge in indolence and sleep, swal- 
lowing at intervals large stones to keep the sto- 
mach distended. At the end of this time they are 
excessively emaciated. 
The chase of these animals is esteemed by the 
Kamtschadaies an occupation of the highest honour. 
