. The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals;. Mammals. THE ORDINARY SEALS—ELEPHANT. 281 The Hunting of The Elephant Seal is pursued by the Elephant Man wherever it is found. For- Seala. merly these Seals were secure from all enemies on their deserted islands; but since the European sealers have gone out to seek them, or from about the beginning of this century, their num- bers have rapidly decreased. The sealers cause merciless havoc among the defenseless creatures. Scammon says, that the coast of California scarcely furnished any Elephant Seals to the hunters even 'twenty years ago, a
. The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals;. Mammals. THE ORDINARY SEALS—ELEPHANT. 281 The Hunting of The Elephant Seal is pursued by the Elephant Man wherever it is found. For- Seala. merly these Seals were secure from all enemies on their deserted islands; but since the European sealers have gone out to seek them, or from about the beginning of this century, their num- bers have rapidly decreased. The sealers cause merciless havoc among the defenseless creatures. Scammon says, that the coast of California scarcely furnished any Elephant Seals to the hunters even 'twenty years ago, and this region therefore is no longer regarded as a hunting ground. In order to count on sure results it is necessary to go to the desert islands on the southern boundary of the Seals' range and remain there for months or years. These islands are uninhabited by human beings, and Ker- with these, and also with good guns, the hunters try to get between the herd on the land and the water. Then they make the greatest possible noise, by shouting, shooting, or in any other way, and slowly advance on the herd, swinging the guns, clubs and spears; and frightened by the unusual din; the herd, as a rule, retreats. If, as not infrequently happens, a male tries to resist and break through the line, a bullet through the brain ends his life, or a spear thrust into his mouth arrests him and forces him down on his hinder quarters. Two men armed with heavy oaken clubs hurry to the spot and stun or kill him by repeated blows on the head. The slaughter of their companions causes such a terror among the animals that they lose all self-possession and climb, roll and fall over each other, if they do not see any. THE ELEPHANT SEAL This animal, because of its great size and its truncated nose, has been aptly named after the Elephant. The picture well brings out the characteristics of this clumsy animal and the trunk-like nose of the male. The female, in the background, has no unusual development of
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectmammals, bookyear1895
