DISSECTIONS OF PUPS. 379 



are not much inclined to follow up the young- bulls just now, and protest feebly against 

 their presence in and about the rookeries. They are growing lean, and their courage 

 and pugnacity goes with the loss of fat. 



In the state of nature the superabundance of fighting males would greatly tend 

 to diminish the rate of increase of the seal herd. This check has perhaps prevented 

 them from outrunning their food supply. 



Many of the dead cows seen of late seem to date back to the time when those 

 were killed at Vostoshni. Probably all were either shot by poachers or killed by bulls 

 at about the time of parturition. 



A virgin cow in charge of a large bull in the rear of the rookery shows signs of 

 coming in heat. The bull smells her over and mounts her, she assisting him; but he 

 withdraws and lies down. Tries again, and again leaves her. This is the first 

 approach to lack of virility that has been seen. There may be some other cause for 

 the bull's failure. The bull is a strong and vigorous looking fellow, but young. After 

 fifteen minutes there is no evident disposition to resume. The bull lies sleeping and 

 the cow sits pruning herself. 



Among the pups at Polovina there is occasionally seen one with eyes stuck 

 together by mattery excretions aggravated by sand. Doubtless the sand causes 

 irritation and suppuration. 



Seven pups are gathered in that are fresh enough to be examined, and will be 

 brought home. Footing up the various groups of dead pups counted we find that this 

 rookery shows a total of 171 by this superficial count. It will be necessary to make 

 a more thorough examination. This mortality among the pups becomes a matter of 

 considerable interest and importance, as these pups have all died prior to any possible 

 effects of pelagic sealing, which does not begin until August 1. 







DISSECTIONS OF PUPS. 



In the afternoon Dr. Jordan, assisted by Dr. Voss, dissected the pups brought in 

 from Polovina. Mr. Stanley-Brown, Judge Crowley, and Mr. Macoun were present at 

 the examination. The following is the record : ! 



1. A large well-fed pup; the pleural cavity found to contain a teacupful of blood; 

 lungs utterly crushed and dark purple with congestion; liver crushed, full of contusions; 

 right kidney contused; other organs uninjured; stomach containing some milk; pup 

 saved in alcohol. 



2. A young, well-nourished female pup, with umbilical cord attached; lungs 

 crushed and congested, the lobes full of blood; heart contused, its blood vessels 

 congested; liver congested and full of blood; stomach empty; kidneys intact, saved 

 in alcohol; the bones very soft and flexible, do not break. 



3. Moderate-sized female pup; fat; sleek skin; no blood in pleural cavity; lungs 

 empty and crushed flat as if sat upon; liver, kidneys, and heart normal; stomach 

 empty; not badly crushed, but enough to kill. 



1 By the investigations of 1897 we are led to believe that the great majority of these seen on 

 Polovina died as a result of the parasitic worm Uncinaria. That thes*' dissections show so evidently 

 crushing or trampling to be the cause of death is explained by the fact that the pups, weak and 

 dying from Cncinaria, readily fell victims to the trampling of the bulls, which became the immediate 

 cause of death. 



15184, PT 2 9 



