THE COUNT OF LUKANIN ROOKERY. 



557 



slides between the different sections of the cliff. Last year these slides were full, and 

 the cows overflowed on the flat above. 



Along the water front are a number of small harems which at high tide are 

 submerged. The bulls hold the cows in the surf as best they can. One bull has a 

 gravid cow on a rock at some distance out. The rock is so nearly submerged that 

 both are half under water. What will the cow do if her pup is to be delivered at 

 high tide! 



A harem of 4 cows near by is also in the water. The bull is splashing about in 

 the water keeping his cows from getting on dry land. One or 2 pups seem to be 

 trying to get out to the cows. But as I watch I find that other pups are playing in 

 the wash of the surf. One pup pushes another oft' the rock and then follows, both 

 climbing out on the rocks immediately. On looking about I find other wet pups 

 scattered about. These also have evidently been in the water. There is no attempt 

 at swimming. They simply get into the water and out again. The sensation is 

 evidently a pleasant one and new pups are trying it from imitation. 



No pups were seen to go into the water until the 27th of July last year. 



MR. LUCAS'S NOTES. 



I made a count of Ardiguen this morning with Mr. Macouii. There are 33 harems 

 and 470 cows. Last year there were 27 harems and 550 cows. 



Three or 4 bulls with 2-year old cows were seen on Zapadui this afternoon. 

 Zapadni Reef is thin and straggling. Beginning at the lower end near the hauling 

 ground it is as follows: Thin, gap, thick, gap, small patch, wide gap with 1 or 2 

 cows scattered along in it, large patch at point, thin and broken to cairn 29 and thin 

 about there also, small break, then fairly thick on innermost point including cairns 

 30 and 31. 



JULY 15. 



A count of the cows by harems was made on Lukanin rookery this morning. 

 The harems in detail are as follows : 



Total cows 1,841 



Total harems 128 



Average harem 14. 3 



This count of cows on Lukanin rookery is accurate within a hundred. It is 

 evident that the estimate of last year was slightly in excess of the actual conditions, 

 owing to the fact that it was based on a count of harems made on the 20th computed 

 at the size of the average harem for Kitovi. Within the past few days many changes 

 have occurred due to the scattering of the cows, and bulls idle two days ago have 

 now small groups of cows. 



