THE AGES OF SEALS. 441 



Few, if auy, dead pups are to be seen; none that seem fresh; few starving pups; 

 all seem strong. The distance, however, is too great to make fine distinctions. 



At the supper table this evening the conversation turned on the effect of thunder 

 on seals. Mr. Redpath spoke of the time when a heavy thunderstorm occurred at 

 night on St. George Island. He said that the next morning the seals were found 

 scattered all over inland in out of way places and on all the beaches. It took them 

 several days to get back to normal conditions. They had evidently been very greatly 

 frightened. 



He also told of some volcanic disturbance which turned the water about the island 

 grayish white, as though mixed with ashes. The air was full of sulphur fumes, the 

 white paint on the houses turned black, and the brass fixtures on the launch were 

 tarnished. 



AUGUST 29. 

 MR. LUCAS'S NOTES. 



A moderate southeast gale is on with a little rain. There is a great surf running, 

 but the largest seals play in the heaviest breakers and the pups go in pretty large 

 rollers. The seals are less timid than usual of late; possibly the weather has some- 

 thing to do with it. As elsewhere on the Reef, the seals are well back from the water, 

 and many young bulls paying attention to the cows. It seems as if 5 regular harems 

 had been established at intervals among the seals, presided over by well-grown bulls. 

 These were noticed for the first time last night by Mr. Clark. 



There is more or less mixing of seals of all classes and the bachelors wander about 

 at will. A pup wanders into a little group of bachelors and they start to teasing him. 

 When the pup moves off", a bachelor pursues. The pup turns and faces him and snaps 

 vigorously. The whole proceeding reminds one of several big boys tormenting a little 

 one and preventing him from going home. A holostiak seizes the pup by the neck, 

 just as the bulls have been seen to seize the cows, and runs off with him. Another 

 bachelor seizes the pup by back and the first one lets go only to grasp pup again by 

 nose. They try to pull the pup to pieces and finally drop him. The pup seems 

 uninjured and starts to back off, afraid to turn tail. After a little backing the pup 

 escapes among the cows and pups, principally owing to lack of continuity of purpose 

 on part of the pursuing bachelors. 



AUGUST 30. 



MR. LUCAS'S NOTES. 



The day is a fine warm one, sunny in the afternoon. After dinner I went to Zoltoi 

 with Mr. Redpath, and afterwards to the Reef. There are more seals on Zoltoi than 

 at any time since July, and the majority are old bulls. On the sands to the north of 

 Zoltoi are at least 200; in the little cove below at least 150, assorted sizes; on Zoltoi 

 bluffs about 400; and another 100 down by the water. A most remarkable display of 

 bulls. 



AGES OF THE SEALS. 



Mr. Redpath points out seals of different ages, and I see that my tendency has 

 been to underestimate the age of the smaller bulls. It is evident that the majority of 



