Note 139 — Chapter XI · THE ALASKAN SEA-LION.

Often when the fur-seal and sea-lion bulls haul up in the beginning of the season examples among them which are inordinately fat will be seen; their extra avoirdupois renders them very conspicuous, even among large gatherings of their kind; they seem to exhibit a sense of self-oppression then, quite as marked as is that subsequent air of depression worn when, later, they have starved out this load of surplus blubber, and are shambling back to the sea, for recuperation and rest.