Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/479

Rh of past troubles. One of the crew gave me a tooth some 7 in. in length, the greater portion of which lies within the gum (e.g. 4·9 in.). When disturbed the belching of each of these old bulls was objectionably strong, for it can scarcely be called a roar. So great is the exertion that blood appears in the pharynx, and this occurred when I was engaged near its head, measuring the trough in which it lay. This lair along the convex part part was 32 ft. in length, the breadth 7 ft., tapering towards each end. The depth of these, mostly dry mud holes placed among the grasses, ranges to about 2 ft., seldom deeper; but they were placed in natural depressions, i.e. extra to the artificial ones. Many of the troughs are continuous, and intersect each other, so that a large lair may appear netted, which is uncommon. This place soon showed an unfortunate change. Rifles were presented within six feet of each bull, and the bullet sped through the brain-box, partly flattening on the blubber of the opposite side. Now, slits with sharp knives are run dorsally in the long direction, and out rushes venous-like blood to stain the little bay in a few minutes. From one Seal some sixty fountains of blood rose in oblique directions to a height of two feet, and all from the single cut on the back. Against the sky-line this miniature double line of fountains looked strange, and the spray of a city corporation water-van is not to be compared to its delicate and coloured sprayings. In the viscera I was surprised at the length of the small intestine, which I found to be 255 ft. in length, and capable of rough haulage. It stood the pulling over the grass from the carcase with only a small distension.

The method of procuring "Elephants" is a simple, though not an easy one. Three boats, each with a crew of five men, row from the anchorage to the shore, haul up their boats, prospect the field, and, with four loaded rifles, drive the animals down to within a few yards of high-water mark, and shoot them. There they lie for the coming of the tide, and get anchored temporarily in a few feet of water. Some of the Seals give considerable trouble before they will leave the high lands (one hundred yards from the beach on a medium incline), and as many as three hours