It will be quite superfluous to tell my readers to which order of
animals I think that this _Megophias megophias_ belongs. It runs like
a red thread through my whole volume, that I firmly believe that it
belongs to the Order of _Pinnipedia_.
More than once I have already shown the relation to this Order, but
probably not often enough to convince some headstrong scepticals, or
even those who believe in the existence of sea-serpents, but think that
they belong to other orders of the Animal Kingdom.
I will first show my readers some drawings and sketches of sea-lions
and of a sea-bear.
[Illustration: Fig. 74.--_Zalophus californianus_ (LESS.) ALLEN?--Drawn
by W. P. from a living specimen in the Brighton Aquarium.--From the
_Illustrated London News_ of Jan. 6, 1877.]
Fig. 74 represents a sea-lion of the Brighton Aquarium. I think it is a
_Zalophus californianus_ (LESS.) ALLEN. We observe that it has a rather
pointed, rather blunt snout, with whiskers; that the eyes protrude
like those of a toad, that there is a little bunch a little above and
behind the eye, that its neck is long in comparison with that of common
seals, that in this position the neck is narrower than the head, and
the shoulders are visible, that the flappers resemble somewhat those of
turtles, that the body is round and slender, and the skin smooth and
glittering in the sun, though, in fact, it is hairy and not shining
when it is dry.
Fig. 75 shows the same species in another position. The neck is not
extended as much as possible, and so the head seems to be as large as
the neck; the forehead and nose form nearly a straight line; in the
bunch above the eye protruding from the surface we clearly see the
heavy eye-brow; the head is held at nearly right angles with the neck,
so that the latter gets wrinkles on the throat, which resemble four
gills (read gillsplits), or pouches of loose skin. Compare for a moment
the left foreflapper with the flappers of a sea-serpent, drawn in figg.
36, 45, and 50. The skin is smooth and shining, though when dry it is
hairy and dull.
[Illustration: Fig. 75.--_Zalophus californianus_ (LESS.)
ALLEN.--?--Drawn by W. P. from a living specimen in the Brighton
Aquarium.--From the _Illustrated London News_ of Jan. 6., 1877.]
Fig. 76 is a drawing of _Eumetopias Stelleri_ (LESSON) PETERS, also
a sea-lion. This genus is characterized by its considerably vaulted
fore head (_eu_ = well developed, _metopion_ = forehead). The skin
shows numerous folds or wrinkles, on the throat a fold again forms a
distinctly visible “gill”.--The form of the foreflappers resemble those
of a turtle. The neck is in comparison with that of seals much longer
and as it is not extended as much as possible, it is thicker than the
head. The skin is smooth, being wet.
Fig. 77 represents the same species. Here the animal swims with
vertical undulations.
Fig. 78 represents the same species with its neck totally contracted
so that several wrinkles encircle it, resembling “kinds of scrolls, or
tufts of loose skin”, and it seems as if the animal has no neck at all.
Fig. 79 shows us the same species standing nearly upright in the
water, with its neck contracted, so that it looks as having no neck, or
a neck much larger than the head; the head seen in front is as round as
a barrel; the skin is wrinkled. The individual looks at us, as if it
would take a view of us.
[Illustration: Fig. 76.--_Eumetopias Stelleri_ (LESSON) PETERS.--Drawn
by the animal-painter G. MÜTZEL from a living specimen in the
Zoological Gardens of Berlin. From the _Illustrirte Zeitung_ of Jan.
27, 1877.--]
Fig. 80 is the same individual in the same position but seen from
aside. The head is now much longer, the snout neither too pointed,
nor too blunt; the head is held at nearly right angles with the neck,
forming a “gill” (read gillsplit) by wrinkling the skin on the throat.
Fig. 81 is a drawing of _Otaria jubata_, quite dry. The head is held
at nearly right angles with the neck forming two “gills”. The snout
is rather blunt, apparently quadrangular in front. The nostrils are
at the end of the snout and wide open, “nearly semicircular valves
overarching” them. The eyes are wide open and disproportionately large.
The neck in comparison with that of seals is long. The skin is hairy,
the hairs of the neck are much longer. This mane begins at the occiput.
The form of the flappers is like that of a turtle’s. Compare the form
of the foreflappers with that of figg. 36, 45 and 50. The body is round
and slender.
Fig. 82 represents a sea-bear, _Callorhinus ursinus_, quite dry. The
little hairy bunch which is visible in the forepart of the back, is
the shoulder of the other side. The hairs of the back-line are longer
than the others, forming a mane extending all over the neck and back.
The reader will see that I have represented this animal with only four
toes on both the foreflappers and hindflappers; this is because I give
a facsimile of the figure occurring in BREHM’S “Thierleben”.
[Illustration: Fig. 77.--_Eumetopias Stelleri_ (LESSON)
PETERS.--Sketched by the animal-painter G. MÜTZEL, from a living
specimen in the Zoological Gardens of Berlin.--From the _Illustrirte
Zeitung_ of Jan. 27, 1877.]
[Illustration: Fig. 78.--_Eumetopias Stelleri_ (LESSON)
PETERS.--Sketched from a living specimen by the animal-painter G.
MÜTZEL in the Zoological Gardens of Berlin.--From the _Illustrirte
Zeitung_ of Jan. 27, 1877.]
It is not the place here to give a monograph of Pinnipeds, but to
compare the different known characters of the sea-serpents with those
of the other of Pinnipeds, and therefore I am obliged to take the same
order I have followed above.
[Illustration: Fig. 79.--_Eumetopias Stelleri_ (LESSON)
PETERS.--Sketched by the animal-painter G. MÜTZEL from a living
specimen in the Zoological Gardens of Berlin.--From the _Illustrirte
Zeitung_ of Jan., 27, 1877.]
_Dimensions._ At first sight it will be doubted if such an enormous
animal can be a pinniped? It is so immensely large in comparison with
the known species of this order! Suppose for a moment that whale-bone
whales, spermwhales and finwhales were not yet known, and that one of
these animals was caught; what would be our astonishment! Suppose that
pythons and boas were not yet discovered, and somebody showed us a skin
of a python of 26 feet long, I think that the first thought would be
“you are a handy fellow, but you will not cheat me with your story!” I
will add here some other striking comparisons.
[Illustration: Fig. 80.--_Eumetopias Stelleri_ (LESSON)
PETERS.--Sketched by the animal-painter G. MÜTZEL from a living
specimen in the Zoological Gardens of Berlin.--From the _Illustrirte
Zeitung_ of Jan., 27, 1877.]
The largest known now living cartilaginous fishes are of 36 (_Selache
maxima_) and of 42 feet (_Carcharodon Rondeletii_); but a fossil
species of the latter genus reached a length of 81 feet (_Carcharodon
megalodon_), and earlier Northern truthful and accurate writers even
mention 100 feet as occasional dimension of the _Selache maxima_, an
animal eagerly pursued by the Norwegians for the oil of its liver.
We, who in our latitudes look already with amazement on a salmon of
5 feet length, must be perplexed when seeing for the first time an
osseous fish of 10 (_Thynnus thynnus_), of 15 (_Arapaima gigas_), or of
20 feet (_Regalecus Banksii_).
The largest known living Amphibium is 4 feet long (_Cryptobranchus_),
and caused great astonishment, when it was discovered, but fossil
_Amphibia_ have been found larger than 15 feet (_Mastodonsaurus_).
The largest actually measured living Reptile has a length of 30 feet
(_Crocodilus_), but some fossilized reptiles show a length of 38 feet
(_Hadrosaurus_, _Ichthyosaurus_), 45 feet (_Elasmosaurus_), 58 feet
(_Rhamphosuchus_), 70 feet (_Brontosaurus_) nay even of 100 (_Liodon_)
and of 115 feet (_Atlantosaurus_), and probably many kinds of Reptiles
are still longer, the skeletons of which have been dug up only
partially!
[Illustration: Fig. 81.--_Otaria jubata_ (FORSTER) DESM.--From the
“List of the Vertebrated Animals now or lately living in the Gardens of
the Zoological Society of London, 1877.”]
Whale-bone-whales of 88 feet, sperm whales of 90 feet, and finwhales
of 120 feet are occasionally mentioned to have been measured in
the foregoing century, but at present such dimensions are not more
recorded, because these animals have been so incessantly persecuted for
ages!
Well, let us stop here, and say that there are many wonders still
hidden in the sea, and that there will be always a chance that of
every species of animals individuals will be discovered, still larger
than the largest specimen ever measured. If of all Pinnipeds the
sea-elephants were hitherto the largest known, this is no more the
case: they are surpassed by sea-serpents. If of all known living and
fossil animals the _Atlantosaurus_ and the _Balaenoptera_ were hitherto
the largest known, this is no more the case: they are surpassed by the
_Megophias_.
Of all Pinnipeds the family of the _Auriculata_ (Eared Seals) has the
longest necks. In this particular they are surpassed by sea-serpents.
[Illustration: Fig. 82.--_Callorhinus ursinus_ (LINNÉ) GRAY.--From
BREHM’S “Thierleben”.]
None of the hitherto known living Pinnipeds has such an enormous tail
as the sea-serpent, but the fossil _Basilosaurus_, an animal more or
less allied to the earless seals, has an enormous tail. Of the singular
appearance of a family of which some members have immensely long tails,
and others are almost wholly without, we have more instances in the
animal kingdom. Of the Monkeys the family of the _Simiidae_ have no
tails, whilst the other families have generally long tails. Amongst the
tailed monkeys we find in one _genus_ species with very long tails, as
the _Macacus cynamolgos_ (the Macaque Monkey), and others with very
short tails, as the _Macacus maurus_ (Moor Macaque). This difference in
the length of the tail is present _in all orders_ of the _Quadrupedia_.
_Form._--The shape of _Megophias megophias_ is exactly that of
_Zalophus californianus_, with a longer neck, and with a tail as long
as trunk, neck, and head together. The shape of the head too, in my
opinion, more resembles that of _Zalophus californianus_ than that of
any other Pinniped. The shape of the neck, the trunk, and the flappers
is exactly that of the same portions of the _Auriculata_, especially
in _Zalophus californianus_, viz: all are slender: “The body is
rather slender, and the head is narrow, long, and pointed, and with
this slenderness of form is coordinated a corresponding litheness of
movement”. (ALLEN, _History of North American Pinnipeds_, p. 276). It
may be that the hindflappers have a form hitherto unknown in Pinnipeds,
as we have of the hindflappers neither a description nor any tolerable
illustration. The forehead being flat, very much resembles that of
_Zalophus californianus._ The snout or muzzle too, is of all Pinnipeds
most resembling that of _Zalophus californianus_.
All Pinnipeds have whiskers. In some species they are large, as in
_Callorhinus ursinus_, the sea-bear, in other comparatively small,
as in _Monachus tropicalis_ GRAY, and in the males of the genus
_Macrorhinus_, and even very small in the _Trichecidae_.
The eyes of _Megophias megophias_ seem to be comparatively larger
than those in other species of Pinnipeds, though _Otaria jubata_ and
_Phoca foetida_ are known to have comparatively large eyes. I have
nowhere found any remark about the colour of the eye, with regard
to its _tapetum lucidum_, and till now I have had no opportunity to
convince myself of the _tapetum_ of _Zalophus_ or _Eumetopias_ being
red. But is it not remarkable that Mr. H. W. ELLIOT too asserts of
_Eumetopias Stelleri_: “it has a really leonine appearance and bearing,
greatly enhanced by the rich, golden-rufous of its coat, ferocity of
expression, and _bull-dog-like muzzle and cast of eye_”? (ALLEN, _Hist.
N. Am. Pinn._ p. 258).
_Skin._--As in all Pinnipeds the skin is hairy, most probably the hairs
are quite stiff and not woolly like fur.
_Colours, Individual Variations._--We have only to read different
descriptions of seals, sea-lions, and sea-bears, to observe that every
species varies much as to its colour, but that in some there is a
wide range of individual variations. Only in a few species the under
part is darker than the upper part, but generally the upper part is
much darker than the under part, and with regard to their colours the
animals are so to say longitudinally divided into two sections, dark
above, lighter beneath. Their being variegated with spots or streaks
occurs in many species, less in sea-lions and sea-bears, more in seals,
but is the most striking in the Hooded Seal (_Cystophora cristata_,
(ERXL) NILSS.). If we closely examine this species, the question
arises: is not the lighter colour the ground-colour, and are not the
dark spots and streaks and circles secondary appearances? And I think
that this question must be answered in the affirmative. Remarkable is
also the black colour of the region of the mouth and round the eye in
some individuals of sea-serpents. This singularity occurs also in some
specimens of other Pinnipeds. Of _Eumetopias Stelleri_ “the end of the
nose.... is naked and.... dull blue black” (ALLEN, _Hist. N. Am. Pinn._
p. 234, 235); of _Zalophus californianus_ we read: “A third is....
blackish around the eyes and nostrils” (ALLEN, _Hist. N. Am. Pinn._ p.
277). In a foetal specimen: “nose and face, to and around the eyes” are
“black” (Ibid., p. 278); and NILSSON’S black variety of the Ringed Seal
(_Phoca foetida_ FABR.) has “nose and eye-rings uniform black” (Ibid.
p. 602).
_Sexual differences, Mane._--The males of some species of Pinnipeds
have a mane, i. e. the hairs of the neck are longer than on the rest of
the body. Of _Eumetopias Stelleri_ “the hair is longest on the anterior
upper portion of the body, where on the neck and shoulders it attains
a length of 40 mm.; it decreases in length posteriorly, and toward
the tail has a length of only 15 mm.” (ALLEN, _Hist. N. Am. Pinn._ p.
234). Of the hairs of _Callorhinus ursinus_ we read: “It is longest
on the top of the head, especially in the males, which have a well
marked crest. The hair is much longer on the anterior half of the body
than on the posterior half, it being longest on the hinder part of the
neck, where in the males it is very coarse. On the crown the hair has
a length of 42 mm.; on the hinder part of the neck it reaches a length
of 50 to 60 mm. From this point posteriorly it gradually shortens, and
near the tail has a length of only 20 mm. The males have much longer
hair than the females, in which it is much longer than in _Eumetopias
Stelleri_.” (ALLEN, _Hist. N. Am. Pinn._ p. 315).
The difference in size of males and females is also a peculiar
character of some species of Pinnipeds, as may be seen from the
following tables:
+----------------------------+---------+---------+-------+
| | VERY OLD| VERY OLD| |
| NAME | MALE. | FEMALE.| RATIO.|
+----------------------------+---------+---------+-------+
|_Zalophus californianus_ | 8¹⁄₃ ft.| 6³⁄₄ ft.|100:81 |
|_Eumetopias Stelleri_ |13 „ | 9 „ |100:69 |
|_Macrorhinus leoninus_ |25 „ |15 „ |100:60 |
|_Macrorhinus angustirostris_|22 „ |13 „ |100:59 |
|_Callorhinus ursinus_ | 8 „ | 4 „ |100:50.|
+----------------------------+---------+---------+-------+
In _Callorhinus ursinus_ the female, as we observe, attains only half
the length of a male. The weight of a fullgrown female being less than
one sixth that of a full-grown male.
The losing of hair when the animals grow very old, is very striking in
both _Odobaenus rosmarus_ and in _Odobaenus obesus_.
_Food._ The food of all Pinnipeds consists of mussels, and other
mollusks, especially, however, of all kinds of fish, but that they are
not averse to cetacean flesh, may be proved by the following fact: Mr.
BROWN says of _Odobaenus rosmarus_: “I have only to add that whenever
it was killed near where a whale’s carcass had been let adrift, its
stomach was unvariably found _crammed_ full of the _krang_ or flesh
of that _Cetacean_” (ALLEN, _Hist. N. Am. Pinn._ p. 135). _Eumetopias
Stelleri_ occasionally eats birds (Ibid. p. 274).
_Breathing._--Even in seals and sea-lions it may be occasionally
observed that they “blow like a whale”; I myself saw it more than once,
when the animals lay with their nose at water level, or when they
appeared on the surface after having remained under water for a long
time. It is sufficiently known that the average time these animals
remain under water is eight or ten minutes, but they have also been
observed lying quite still on the bottom for more than three hours. I
read in Mr. ALLEN’S work (p. 180) that also walruses “blow not unlike a
whale”.
_Excretion._--The emitting a very strong odour is also known in
Pinnipeds. KRASCHENINIKOW says of _Callorhinus ursinus_: “Such as are
old, or have no mistresses, live apart; and the first that our people
found upon _Behring_’s Island were such old ones, and all males,
extremely fat and stinking” (ALLEN, p. 342). Of _Eumetopias Stelleri_
CHORIS reports: “L’odeur qu’ils répandent est insupportable. Ces
animaux étaient alors dans le temps du rut” (ALLEN, p. 254), and of
_Phoca foetida_ KUMLIEN asserts:
“It is only the adult males (called _Tigak_, = Stinker, by the Eskimo)
that emit the horribly disagreeable, all-permeating, ever-penetrating
odor that has suggested its specific name. It is so strong that one
can smell an Eskimo some distance when he has been partaking of the
flesh; they say it is more nourishing than the flesh of the females,
and that a person can endure great fatigue after eating it. If one of
these Tigak comes in contact with any other Seal meat it will become so
tainted as to be repulsive to an educated palate; even the atluk of the
Tigak can be detected by its odor.” (ALLEN, p. 624).
Respecting the foetid odour emitted by this species, Dr. RINK observes
as follows:
“It derives its scientific name from the nauseous smell peculiar to
certain older individuals, especially those captured in the interior
ice-fjords, which are also on an average perhaps twice as large as
those generally occurring off the outer shores. When brought into a
hut, and cut up on its floor, such a seal emits a smell resembling
something between that of assafoetida and onions, almost insupportable
to strangers. This peculiarity is not noticeable in the younger
specimens or those of a smaller size, such as are generally caught, and
at all events the smell does not detract from the utility of the flesh
over the whole of Greenland”.--_Danish Greenland, its People and its
Products_ p. 123 (ALLEN, _Hist. N. Am. Pinn._ p. 624).
_Feeling._ Also in seals and sea-lions in our Zoological Gardens we may
often observe that they dislike wind, and hold only the top of their
nose above water, that they shut their eyes, and like to bask in the
sun.
_Smell, Hearing, Sight._ It is also known of Pinnipeds that their smell
is very good and their hearing very sharp, but that their sight is
quite limited. This must not surprise us. Their eyes are adapted to see
under water, but such eyes don’t see so well in the air. Yet I have
observed that seals distinguish their keeper from other persons at a
distance of twenty or thirty yards.
_Relative mobility of organs._ Every one who has ever witnessed
the graceful movements of seals and sea-lions, especially those
of _Zalophus californianus_ will admit that these animals, like
sea-serpents, are “as limber and active as an eel”. There is not one
movement made by the sea-serpent, which cannot be made in perfectly the
same way by sea-lions, especially by _Zalophus californianus_, save the
movement of the tail.
_Motion._ The same may be observed in comparing the motions of
sea-serpents with those of _Zalophus californianus_. They too may
appear on the surface, exposing head, neck, and so much of the forepart
of the trunk, as to show their flappers; nay, they may like all kinds
of whales, jump clear out of the water. When swimming slowly, they may
occasionally swim with vertical undulations, they usually, however,
propel themselves by means of their flappers, holding their body in
a straight line; and sometimes horizontal undulations are distinctly
visible; in darting on some prey they swim not only with their
flappers, but undulate their body both horizontally and vertically
at intervals. Of course generally only one or two, seldom three
undulations are to be counted.
I don’t know if sea-lions have ever been seen swimming with _fixed
bunches_, or folds. When at rest their skin may enormously wrinkle,
like that of walruses, and as is shown in our fig. 78.
In swimming the sea-lion usually holds its head above water, and may
occasionally raise its long neck as high as possible to take a view of
a boat or another object.
Owing to the form and size of its flappers the speed of the sea-lion is
really astonishing; it is much less in seals.
Though in a less degree, than in sea-serpents, the water curls up
before its chest, or better throat, in swimming; foam is occasionally
observed, and waves are seen in the form of a V, a wake is of course
formed, and a rushing may be heard at times.
That seals swim so low under the surface of the water, that the course
of the animal can be traced only by the rippling surface, I have myself
witnessed, but I do not know if sea-lions, especially, if _Zalophus
californianus_, are in the habit of swimming in this way.
The manner of disappearing of the sea-serpent is exactly the same as
that of other Pinnipeds. They may turn down with a severe splash, or
sink gradually below the surface, or even, by a sudden upward motion of
their flappers, “sink down like a rock”.
As to the _voice_ of other Pinnipeds it is different in the different
species, but as we have not a single statement of the voice of
sea-serpents, comparison is out of the question here.
_Generation._--The rutting time and the time of whelping differ in
different species, but on an average the month of March and April may
be fixed upon as the pairing time, and July and August as those in
which the females bring forth the young ones.
In some species the males are much larger than the females, and the new
born young ones, like the young sea-serpents are in exact proportion to
the old males, as may be seen from the following table.
+----------------------------+----------+----------+---------+
| NAME. | VERY OLD | NEW BORN | RATIO. |
| | MALE. |YOUNG ONE.| |
+----------------------------+----------+----------+---------+
|_Zalophus californianus_ | 8¹⁄₃ ft.| 2¹⁄₃ ft.| ¹⁄₃-¹⁄₄ |
|_Macrorhinus angustirostris_| 22 „| 4 „ | ¹⁄₅-¹⁄₆ |
|_Eumetopias Stelleri_ | 13 „| 2 „ | ¹⁄₆-¹⁄₇ |
|_Callorhinus ursinus_ | 8 „| 10 in. | ¹⁄₈-¹⁄₉ |
+----------------------------+----------+----------+---------+
_Taking notice of objects._ It is well enough known that seals will
sometimes keep near a vessel, turning their head towards it; or will
play round the vessel, disappearing on one side, reappearing on the
other, as if playing hide and seek; from this it may be concluded they
are in no dread of the vessel, but are curious, and suspicious of the
living objects on it. I don’t know whether sea-lions and sea-bears
behave in the same way, but I know that walruses do.
_Curiosity and Suspicion_ are known characters in all kinds of
Pinnipeds, and it is noteworthy that they are most striking in walruses
and seals.
_Harmlessness and Timidity._ There is hardly any Pinniped which is not
harmless and timid.
_Fearlessness_ is a common trait in walruses and sea-elephants. One
may come very near them. On the other hand scores of them, especially
of the former, will sometimes follow a boat, roaring and crying and
uttering the most horrible sounds, which may be expressions of their
curiosity, suspicion, and fury, but it may also be a way they have of
driving away their enemy.
_Fear_ on the contrary, though less noticeable in walruses, is a
prominent trait in seals, sea-lions and sea-bears. When men approach
them they fly away as fast as possible, and in their hurry to reach the
water crawl over each other, and roar, and cry, and lament in a most
horrible way.
_Fright._ It is superfluous to touch upon this subject in Pinnipeds;
every one knows the effects and consequences of a shot at these timid
animals.
_Fury._ As in sea-serpents, most Pinnipeds, but especially sea-lions,
sea-bears and walruses only get furious when wounded, or when neared
while they are protecting their offspring.
_Toughness._ I know of no observations about this character in seals,
sea-lions, sea-bears, and sea-elephants, but I believe that they are
not tough; one heavy blow with a thick cudgel on the nose killing them
instantly, but the toughness of walruses is known well enough; these
animals are not an easy prey; they may be struck with axes on their
cranium and hit by several rifle balls in their brain, and yet not die;
they die a hard death.
_Playsomeness_ is a well known character of all Pinnipeds; it may of
course be less observable in the bulky and unwieldy walruses.
_Remark._ It is time that the volume comes to an end, and therefore I
have made my comparison as short as possible. I have only to advise
those who wish to know more about the agreement of sea-serpents
with Pinnipeds, to read ALLEN’S often quoted work “_History of
North-American Pinnipeds_”, and his “_On Eared Seals_”, (_Bull. Mus.
Comp. Zool. Harvard College._ Cambr. Mass. Vol. II, n^o. 1.), and
BREHM’S _Thierleben_.
There is one great difference between all the known Pinnipeds on
one side, and sea-serpents on the other. The former are gregarious
or social animals, only living in colonies or great herds, whilst
_Megophias megophias_ is a solitary being. This remarkable difference
can be only accounted for by the two facts 1. That this species is a
cosmopolitan, and 2. That these animals become extinct and that there
exist at present only a very few individuals.
I don’t know if I have convinced my readers of the existence of
sea-serpents, and if so, if they are convinced that these animals are
closely related to Pinnipeds. But I am obliged to proceed on my way,
and consider the rank which sea-serpents occupy in the system of Nature.