152 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

tior. The family of the Otaride, includes the Eared Seals,
the Northern Sea Lion and the Northern Sea Bear. The Eared
Seal is distinguished from the true seal, as his name implies
by the possession of external ears.

Sea Lions. Mr. Theodore Lyman, who had excellent op-
portunities of observing the habits of the Sea Lions on the
Seal Rocks of San Francisco, furnished Mr. Allen with a
graphic account of their movements, from which we quote the
following: “As they approach to effect a landing, the head
only appears decidedly above water. This is their familiar
element and they swim with great speed and ease, quite
unmindful of the heavy surf, and of the breakers on the
ledges. In landing they are apt to take advantage of a
heavy wave which helps them to get the forward flippers on
terra firma, As the wave retreats they begin to struggle up
the steep rocks, twisting the body from side to side, with a
clumsy worm-like motion, and thus alternately work their
flippers into positions, where they may force the body a
little onward. At such times they have a general appearance
of sprawling over the ground. It is quite astonishing to see
how they will go up surfaces having even a greater inclina-
tion than 45° and where a man would have to creep with
much exertion. In their onward path they are accompanied
by the loud barking of all the seals they pass; and these
cries may be heard a great distance. They play among
themselves continually by rolling on each other and feigning
to bite; often too, they will amuse themselves by pushing off
those that are trying to land. All this is done in a very cum-
brous manner, and is accompanied by incessant barking. As
they issue from the water their fur is dark and shining; but as
it dries, it becomes of a yellowish brown. Then they appear
to feel either too dry or too hot, for they move to the nearest point
from which they may tumble into the sea. I saw many roll off
a ledge at least twenty feet high, and fall like so many huge
brown sacks into the water, dashing up showers of spray.”