Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-14
THE SEA ELEPHANT.
Animal Is Already Rare, and May
Soon Become Extinct.

Scientists all over the world have
become Interested in the herd of sea
elephants rediScuvtred on Guadalupe
Island d year and Il half ago by the
t. s S. AlbatroSs expedition sent out
by tae American Museum Of Natural
History This island lies oil the west
ccast OF nieXico. and there were all told
only 100 animals in the herd at that
time. According To recent Information
this number has been diminished to
only thirty-SiX, and the animal is
threatened with complete extinction by
mer, enary hunters.
Naturalists in every land have cX-
dressed 4 desire for further intotma-
ton regarding the strange creatures
known la exist only in the vicinity of
this island and are making pleas Tor
their preservation. Plans are now be-
ing formulated fer an appeal to the
Governments of the United States and
Mexico to secure this end.
The sea elephants are seen most fire.
quently in small cove not more than
600 yards long by about thirty wide.
Il lies on the west side of the island.
The side furtherast from the Lower Cal
tIbt ND f'iit - thSopit'Ntis ~
accessible from the land cliffs 4,000
feet high rise just back of the mar
row beach ana extend out on both sides
INTO the sea. Moreover, heavy surf
beats in continually, atfording the herd
almost complete isolation. 1t is the
toughest point on the lonely little is
land Boats stopping here must b an
chored at both bow and stern. and ii is
not safe to come closer than within
half a nile of the beach. From thai
distance landing is made in row
boat.
This tiny niche is called Sea Ele-
plant Beach, after the strange creature
chat hourishes there. This animal. an
important link in the chain of evolu-
ton, is the largest of all fin footed
mammals. As its name of seal eie-
phant might suggest it locke like
seal i'm a transitional stage, ON its
way to becoming an elephant.
The adult male is about Twenty-Five
feet in length and is eight feet high
when propped up on his front flippers
IN "A natural position. These great bulls
weigh from two to three tons and
while in color they are generally dark
IPudfSi DJON H. pIlt VI tiitil "'i7 ~
served to be flesh pink and seemed very
cid They have a trunk, or proboscis,
which when relaxed hangs down ever
the mouth about two feet. In the end
of this the nostrils are placed rather
wide apart and when they breathe the
whole affair trembles in tiny undula-
toms to the very end.
The fippers are thick and til ped with
heavy claws. Skeletonzed, they spread
out in Il fan of five fingers like
hand There is a tail about one and
a half feet long separated horizontal
~ in two divisions. This tail acts as
a propeller, assisting the huge crea-
ture when coming in through the
breakers He hoists his back fiippers
and tail SO as to. catch the full sweep
sof The waves and then allows himself
to be boosted up on the beach.
Coarse bristly hair grows sparsely
from the neck back along the body,
and a tough protecting crust of flesh
reaches like shield from the lower
jaw down over the chest and around
to the back of the neck. This bib af'
fair is natures provision for protec-
ton IN times of battle. The males
which is in March, and the anatomical
barricade with which each is provided
prevents much loss of life.
When angry the animals rise UP on
their front nippers. swayinS ponder
ously from side To side. queer
trumpeting, something between
snort and Il roar, accompanied by
much blowing through the proboscls
is an ,nvariable prelude to their move
ments. A fierce Iungc at an opponent
is succeeded by great deal of grnm-
bling as the aggressor backs off pre-
paratory to another attack. They
pummel each other ferociously with
their tough proboscises until their
necks are raw. but strange to say, no
matter how severe the wounds lnillct-
ed on other parts of the body, TINS
appendage is seldom injured.