COUNT OF LIVE PUPS. 577 



them were fresh enough for examination. Three or 4 were secured and afterwards 

 dissected by Mr. Lucas. 



The branded cow was found in a harein below her former position. The brand 

 is larger than when made and very distinct. It consists of one band on the back 

 just behind the shoulders. The cow is in good condition and has a pup. She has 

 been badly torn under the right shoulder, but the wound is healing. 



AUGUST 2. 

 LIVE PUPS ON LAGOON. 



I counted Lagoon rookery this morning with Mr. Macoun. The bulls seem to 

 grow milder every day. Only a few made any trouble, but these few were as fierce 

 as could be expected. It may be that they are hitherto idle bulls which have recently 

 come into possession of harems deserted by the regular bulls. A total of 2,528 live 

 pups were counted. A count of dead ones was afterwards made and 70 found. This 

 is 4 less than last year. 



The count of live pups for this season exceeds that of last year, which was 2,484. 

 It was, however, much more accurately and easily done this year, as at the time of 

 the count in 1896 the pups ha<l spread over the point in a mass and were taking freely 

 to the water, making it very difficult to count them. It may therefore be that the 

 count of last year fell short of the actual conditions. 



Five dead cows were found on the rookery. Adding the two which floated ashoi e 

 in the lagoon, we have a large death rate for this small rookery. The number of torn 

 cows was also unusually large. Four pups with suppurating bites in their backs were 

 seen. Everything gave evidence of a good deal of rough treatment on the part of the 

 bulls. 



One live pup, anchored to a rotting placenta among the stones, was released. 

 A pup imprisoned by having one of its fore flippers pinched between two rocks was 

 also released; but it was so near dead that it may not recover. In two instances dead 

 pups were seen with bowlders resting on them in such a way that death must have 

 resulted from the rolling of the stone on the pup, or else the stone was rolled there 

 afterwards. Considering the fact that there has been no surf on this rookery this 

 season, the stones must have been moved about by the bulls. 



Four dead pups were brought home for dissection. In none were Uncinaria 

 found. All had starved. 



A large number of the pups on Lagoon had crossed over the point and were 

 paddling in the water of the channel, seeming to prefer it to the sea front. Two 

 starving pups were seen. No weaklings from Uncinaria were observed. 



A small cow, blind in the left eye, was seen among the cows on the Lagoon. She 

 was of the " moon-eyed " variety. A case of copulation was disturbed. 



LIVE PUPS ON KITOVI. 



In the afternoon a joint count of the live pups on Kitovi rookery was made by 

 Mr. Macoun and myself. The bulls here were more troublesome than on Polovina 

 or Lagoon. A total of 5,163 live pups were found. The dead pups on this rookery 

 will be counted to-morrow morning. 



