File:Brehm's Life of animals - a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools (1895) (20419144331).jpg

Title: Brehm's Life of animals : a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools
Identifier: brehmslifeofanim00breh (find matches)
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Brehm, Alfred Edmund, 1829-1884; PechuLoesche, Eduard, 1840-1913; Haacke, Wilhelm, 1855-1912; Schmidtlein, Richard
Subjects: Mammals; Animal behavior
Publisher: Chicago : Marquis
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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THE ORDINARY SEALS—ELEPHANT. 281 The Hunting of The Elephant Seal is pursued by the Elephant Man wherever it is found. For- Seals. 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
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and its truncated nose, has been aptly named after the Elephant. The nk-like nose of the male. The female, in the background, has no unusual the prooocis-like appearance is a purely masculine adornment in the species. (Macrorhmus leoninus.) THE ELEPHANT SEAL. This animal, because of its great si picture well brings out the characteristics of this clumsy animal and the t development of the nose guelen is held to be the most important of all for Seal killing, but the shores are full of broken rocks, partly concealed under the water, which render land- ing difficult and for long distances do not allow even the smallest vessel to cast anchor among them with /security. The sealers landing in a boat, even during the calmest weather, are compelled to jump into the water and hold the boat lest it be dashed against the rocks. An angry surf roars around those icy, rocky coasts and inundates them to a considerable depth at every breeze. It was not without reason that Cook called it Kerguelen Land, or Desolation Island. The hunt of the Elephant Seals is pursued with the help of heavy cudgels and spears about fifteen feet long, provided with strong, sharp tips. Armed other means of escape. Immediately after the kill- ing, the process of cutting off the blubber begins. The various pieces of blubber are tied together, fastened to ropes and dragged to the ship, where they are further divided and rendered in special kettles, the oil which is extracted from them being valued higher than that of the Whales for lubricat- ing purposes. The flesh of the animal is black, oily and nearly uneatable, and is therefore of little value, but the heart is a favorite dish with the sailors, and the liver is considered a dainty by these not very fastidious people, though it is said that it causes a drowsiness that lasts several hours and can not be overcome. The tongue, salted, is said to be really very savory. The short-haired, stiff skin is manu-

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