The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-26
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SEA LIONS.

SEA LIONS.
The Scientific american says The
crowds that hang around the sea lions en-
closure at Central Park are standing
proof of popular interest in these remark
& able animals The whole houseful of land
lions, tigers, and other carnivora, near by,
Commands u smaller audience and even
the monkeys are neglected for the yelping
pack of semi-aquatic performers without.
That the ordinations Of the onlookers
should often bctray the hazest possible
notion of the real character of sea lions
Ind their place in the animal kingdom is
Dot surprising; even professed naturalists
admit plentiful lack Of knowledge with
segard to them, as their natural history
has been studied, for the most part, only
10 limited and fragmentary way, scarce
u a single species having been fully inves-
tigated. Millions have been slaughtered
for their skins, but those engaged in the
murderous traffic care nothing for the
Scientific interests of their victims. Nat
uralists of exploring expeditions have made
Isolated observations and brought home q
few skins and skeletons, But for con-
nected aud expended studies Of these COM
nercally valuable and scientifically inter-
esting creatures, we are indebted mainly
10 the report of Mr.. Elliott, who was sent
but by our government TO investigate the
sealng and other resources Of our lately
purchased islands in the North Pacific,
md to the observations Of Captain Mus
grave, who beguiled the tedium Of twenty
nonths' enforced sojourn on the Auckland
ISLES by Watching the species inhabit;ng
That region, ......s-.,
Visitors at Central Park have the priv
ilege of seeing the largest collection Of sea
ions ever brought together in a museum.
The Geological Society of London, which
leads Europe in this department, has had
only three live ones, and now has two, the
Europe) having died some years ago. Nor
arc European museums much better pro-
Sided with dead specimens But thanks
% the exceeding popularity Of "seal" fur,
lively interest has been aroused in regard
% the animals which furnish it: an inter-
~ which, recent English writer hopes,
viii be fruitful in putting stop to the
needless barbarities which threaten the
speedy extinction Of this valuable class Of
sea animals or at least, If they must sub
nit to immutable elaws--immutable law
lessness, rather-and be gathered to the
dodo, the solitaire, and the northern man.
tee of two centuries ago, We may at least
Be able to point to ample remains in mu-
seuu,s and accurate drawings and descrip.
tious in scientific and popular treatises.
\ According 20 the naturalist just referred
10, Mr.. John Willis Clarke, there are nine
, veil authenticated species offs lions, thus
;. distributed in the North Pacific three, in
The South Pacific, around Cape Horn, and
IN the South Atlantic as far north as Rio
J de- la Plata, two species, around the Cape
Of Good Hope aud the adjacent islands,
A one around Australia aud New Zealand
two and around Kerguelcn's Land, one.
Curiously, sea lions are unknown in the
4 Atlantic except IN the extreme south,
though the Atlantic abounds in true seals,
!, from which the sea lions differ in several
PARTICULARS. The more obvious difference
!" Il the possession of external ears, which
4 seals lack They have besides a long
=. mobile, flexible neck, whereas in seals the
1 beck is short and scarcely perceptible
: Then their limbs arc still available for 10
eomotiou on land, while those of seals have
4 ost all power os supporting the body ou'
u of water. Lastly, they possess the fata
gift Of under fur, which gives them their
IN commercial importance, and threatens 4
PAUSE their untipely ezterminatiOn,
just now popular interest in sea lioni
eenters in the species Of the North Pacific
T, From time immemoriai two species hav'
Inhabited an island in San Francisco har
Dor. Protected by the civic authorities
" lhey have multiplied enormously, threat
= ening the entire destruction Of the salmon
+B, pnce 50 plentiful ID al llCalifotuian rivers
rhc fish commissioners demand a reduc
!, ion of their numbers, urging that the los
81 pf salnon is too heavy a price to pay 70
he entertainment Of the pleasure seeker
= Of San Francisco The latter deny th
n guilt Of the city'sPptesss, and charge th
obnoxious Chinaman with the destructio
ps pf the FISH, Iii pleasure and prejadic
y Y Pgainst. reason and economy which vi
ia Tin, il is hard to say.