CARNIVORES. 
114 
sea-lion uttering only a deep, bass growl, and a prolonged, steady roar; whereas 
the Californian sea-lion never roars, but utters a sharp bark, sometimes almost 
approaching a howl. 
The general habits of this species seem to be very similar to those of the 
northern sea-lion. On the Farallones these seals are found in vast numbers, and 
their barking is described as forming an incessant din. Captain Scammon, writing 
of his experiences with these animals on the island of Santa Barbara, during the 
sealing season of 1852, states that soon after the arrival of his party, about the 
end of May, the colonies of Californian sea-lions “began to augment, and large 
numbers of huge males made their appearance, belching forth sharp, ugly howls, 
and leaping out of or darting through the water with surprising velocity, frequently 
diving outside the rollers, the next moment emerging from the crest of the foaming 
breakers and waddling up the beach with head erect, or, with seeming effort, 
climbing some kelp-fringed rock to doze in the scorching sunbeams; while others 
would lie sleeping or playing among the beds of sea-weed, with their heads and 
outstretched limbs above the surface. But a few days elapsed before a general 
contention with the adult males began for the mastery of the different rookeries; 
and the victims of the bloody encounter were to be seen on all sides of the island, 
with torn lips or mutilated limbs and gashed sides, while now and then an 
unfortunate creature would be met with minus an eye, or with the orb forced from its 
socket, and, together with other wounds, presenting a ghastly appearance. As the 
time for ‘ hauling up ’ drew near, the island became one mass of animation; every 
beach, rock, and cliff, where a seal could find foothold, became its resting-place, 
while a countless herd of old males capped the summit, and the united clamourings 
of the vast assemblage could be heard on a calm day for miles at sea. The south 
side of the island is high and precipitous, with a projecting ledge, hardly perceptible 
from the beach below, upon which one immense sea-lion managed to climb, and 
there remained for several weeks.” 
The same observer adds that “ at the close of the season—which lasts about 
three months on the Californian coast—a large majority of the great herds, both 
males and females, return to the sea, and roam in all directions in quest of food, 
as but few of them could find sustenance about the waters contiguous to the islands, 
or points on the mainland, which are their annual resorting places. They live 
upon fish, molluscs, and sea-fowls, always with the addition of a few pebbles 
or smooth stones, some of which are a pound in weight.” The quantity of fish 
consumed by these seals must, indeed, be enormous. Some years ago it was 
estimated that the total number of sea-lions in the neighbourhood of San Fran¬ 
cisco was upwards of twenty-five thousand, each of which consumed from 10 to 40 
lbs. weight of fish per diem. In capturing gulls the Californian sea-lions display 
no little skill and cunning. When in pursuit of a gull Captain Scammon states 
that the seal dives deeply under water, and swims some distance from wdiere it dis¬ 
appeared, then, rising cautiously, it exposes the tip of its nose above the surface, at 
the same time giving it a rotary motion, like that of a water-buoy at play. The 
unwary bird on the wing, seeing the object near by, alights to catch it, while the 
sea-lion at the same moment settles beneath the waves, and at one bound, with 
extended jaws, seizes its screaming prey, and instantly devours it. 
