104 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



A score or more of pups were killed under circumstances specially fitted to throw 

 light on the subject, and their stomachs, with those of others dead from starvation 

 and other causes, were found to be devoid of all food except milk. 1 Pups killed as 

 late as the 5th of December were found full of milk, and at that time the cows were 

 nursing their pups as at earlier times in the season. Owing to the mild weather, this 

 was nearly a month later than the usual time for the departure of the cows and their 

 young, and the pups had evidently not yet been weaned. 



PUP ABSOLUTELY DEPENDENT UPON ITS MOTHER'S MILK. 



It would necessarily follow from these considerations that the fur-seal pup is 

 dependent upon its mother's milk for nourishment throughout the entire season and 

 until its departure with her from the islands. This fact, taken in connection with the 

 killing of nursing females at sea, is enough to settle the question of whether pups 

 starve to death; but that there should be no mistake, the subject of starvation, as 

 shown iii its direct effect on the pups themselves, received special attention, and may 

 be here considered somewhat in detail. 



1 See fuller discussion iu Mr. Lucas' paper 011 tliu Feeding of the Seals. Part III. 



