Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/220

 distress became so great that the men held the baby over the side and gently dropped it into the water. Immediately the mother swam up and took the baby away with all speed. The old bulls may be brave enough, but it is doubtful if one of them would risk its hide to get a little one back. This incident is a beautiful case of a mother's love.

Sea Lions are very quarrelsome and have great battles among themselves. The greatest fights occur in the spring when the bulls are gathering their families together. Each bull has a number of females under its charge. Now quite often another bull thinks its brother has too many females and it steals one away. This generally occurs when the master of the herd is off fishing but when it returns it promptly goes after the thief, and a great battle takes place. One or the other gets killed, unless either of them shows the white feather and scuttles away to a place of safety.