REEF ROOKERY. 393 



The dense patch between the two ponds contains a considerable death trap, and 

 at the edges adjoining the bachelor runways at either side there are many dead pups, 

 showing excessive fighting along the harems near the bachelors. The north end of 

 the rookery is specially favorable for breeding ground, having few dead pups. The 

 four great central masses contain a rather high proportion, the sandy and muddy 

 tracts especially. The losses here chiefly date back to the beginning of the season, 

 the pups being trampled upon in the sand while very young, no opportunity being 

 afforded them to get into the shelter of the rocks. 



GENERAL NOTES. 



The sandy tract between the ponds might be helped by removing the stones from 

 the surface of the hauling ground and forming them into a sort of fence on the edges 

 of the harems. This would prevent excursions of bachelors into the harems and to 

 a certain extent keep the pups from wandering out and getting stepped on by the 

 bachelors. 



One pup with a bloody nose was noticed. Another very pale colored pup with 

 pinkish eyes seems to be a half albino. One cow was seen with a large gash in her 

 side, like a spear wound, partially healed up. She was nursing her pup. The bad 

 scars seen early in the season on bulls and cows are now well healed. One pup with 

 a patch of skin and muscle larger than one's hand torn out was seen. The wound 

 opened into the body cavity, exposing the intestines, and the flap of torn skin trailed on 

 the ground as the little fellow walked about. He seemed not greatly inconvenienced, 

 but could not recover. He was killed by the Treasury agent, Mr. Crowley. The little 

 fellow was very tenacious of life and showed the tremendous vitality of these creatures 

 when their wounds are in the skin and muscular system. Nearly all the deaths result 

 from injury to the lungs and vital organs. 



One case of copulation with a virgin female was interrupted by the counting. 

 The blame was laid by the bull on one of his neighbors, whom he attacked vigorously. 



Two other cases of copulation were noticed, one with an old cow. In the cases 

 last noted the cow and bull seemed very eager, the bull beginning his work within 

 10 or 15 feet of us, and paying no attention whatever to our presence, though both cow 

 and bull faced us. 



A little pup with a great length of dried placenta attached to him, impeding his 

 movements, was stepped upon by a bull and injured so that he was unable to walk. 

 He was killed by Mr. Lucas, but dissection failed to show any organ injured. This 

 shows that serious injury can be inflicted on a pup without its organs showing clear 

 traces of it on superficial dissection. In a number of cases a rough autopsy such as 

 can be made in the field has failed to show any cause for death. Another larger pup 

 was hurt by a bull striking him. Though evidently quite seriously hurt, it was 

 thought that he would recover, and he was therefore allowed to return to his place. 



A pup was seen with serum running from one eye. No other injury was apparent, 

 and the little fellow seemed lively. Not more than 5 or 6 emaciated pups were seen 

 on the entire Reef. 



Reef rookery is still lively. Large, vigorous bulls seem bent on keeping harems 

 together. These are evidently idle bulls now come into possession of harems. One 

 bull was seen to throw a cow 10 feet, and two others ran away with cows. Some 

 2-year-old cows back of the rookery were carefully guarded by bulls. 



