CHAPTER II.

II.--THE SEA LION FAMILY (OTARIIDÆ).

Various Names--Peculiarities of Distribution--Characteristics of the Family--Dentition--Skull--Fossil Remains--Distinction between Fur and Hair Seals--Preparation of the Seal-skin--THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL--History--The Pribyloff Islands--Male, Female, Young--“Hauling-grounds”--Wintering--Males at the Islands in Spring--Desperate Battles for Seaward Positions--Approach of the Females--Struggles for Wives--The Young--Abstinence from Food, Water, and Sleep for more than Two Months--Neutral Ground in the “Rookeries”--Habits of the Young--Food--Annual Slaughter--Estimated Numbers--Mode of Killing--STELLER’S SEA LION--GILLIESPIE’S HAIR SEAL--HOOKER’S SEA BEAR--The Wreck of the _Grafton_--Musgrave’s Narrative--Sufferings of the Castaways--Their Experiences among the Sea Bears--THE WHITE-NECKED OTARY--Distribution--Description--“Counsellor Seal”--THE PATAGONIAN SEA LION--Historical Associations--Impetus to the Study of the Family--François Lecomte--Its Docility and Intelligence--Its various Performances--Voracity--Lecomte’s Observations--Habits--THE FALKLAND ISLAND FUR SEAL--Habitat--The Hunter’s Boats--Driven from their Haunts--Captain Weddell’s Observations--Great Wariness and Speed--Size--Habits--THE SOUTH AFRICAN, OR CAPE FUR SEAL--THE NEW ZEALAND FUR SEAL--THE ASH-COLOURED OTARY--Peron’s Services to Science 216