476 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



Nearly every pup in the water is playing with seaweed. It may be noted that as 

 far as this goes every one of the hundred or more pups on the rocks who is awake is 

 in much the same manner chewing and shaking his neighbor pup. Pups have been 

 watched on many occasions playing with seaweed and never has anything been seen 

 that would lead one to suppose for a moment that they ate it. 



A pup is playing with an oyster shell. He shows great skill in diving for it and 

 finding it in the water. Among the pups before me is one of the 3 brand pups from 

 Lukauin. The brands look pink and raw throughout their length and breadth, but 

 the pup is lively, playing and diving with his companions. He soon passes along out 

 of sight in the direction of the Reef. 



Eight of the single-brand pups from Kitovi are under the ledge at the head of 

 Black Bluff in another place. This makes 13 in all. One strong lively pup has a 

 gash about 2 inches long in his side. The wound is fresh. He sees me and takes 

 to the water. 



Passing slowly along the beach the little pups, of which there are 200 or 300 on 

 the rocky ledge projecting into Kitovi Bay, allow me to approach in full view of them. 

 I count 11 more of the single-brand pups. One of the triple- brand pups from Lukanin 

 is here also. 



Creeping up to the ledge over the place ou Kitovi where the pups were driven 

 for the last branding, I find 12 of them sleeping within a short space. Three are 

 lying beside their mothers on flat stones. 



THE AMPHITHEATER. 



The little triple-brand pup is still in the Amphitheater of Kitovi. This is evidently 

 its home, and it probably regrets its expedition of that unfortunate morning when the 

 first branding was done from the distant end of Lukanin. It looks very uncomfortable 

 to day. 



The cows, pups, bachelors, and young bulls have overflowed from the Amphitheater 

 to the flat above. The space below is fuller than I have seen it. The cows are 

 seemingly in on account of the gale. 



A bull at the water's edge seizes a pup as it passes him. The little fellow fixes 

 his teeth in the bull's throat. The bull drops him and the pup hurries away. These 

 little fellows are absolutely fearless. They would just as soon tackle a bull as a 

 fellow pup. A human being can't make them run. 



The cows have a fashion when lying on their sides of folding their flippers 

 carefully over their nipples. It seems as if intended to shut out strange pups. 

 Occasionally one is seen to attempt to nurse a sleeping cow. One is trying it now, 

 but the cow wakes and snaps viciously. 



Four pups on the brow of Lukanin Hill have very badly inflamed backs, the 

 3 brands showing raw. One cow seems unwilling to nurse her branded pup, though 

 she recognizes him. She moves about uneasily. She eats pebbles as the pups do. 

 At last she lies down and lets the pup nurse. 



REEF. 



In the afternoon a visit is paid to the Reef with Colonel Murray. The same 

 rounding up and fussing over cows by young bulls is still visible. We have seen no 

 copulation result. 



