HABITS. 647 



appearance iii the southern, and somewhat later in the north- 

 ern regions." Why they leave the Greenland coast in August 

 and again visit it in September, and there remain for several 

 mouths before departing for the south, and where they go dur- 

 ing their absence, are questions for which there is as yet no 

 satisfactory answer. It has, however, by some been supposed 

 to relate to the pairing season, which occurs in August, the 

 females on their return in September being found to be with 

 young. Mr. Kumlien states that "a few schools were noticed 

 at different times during September, 1877, and October, 1878, 

 from the islands of the Labrador coast to Cumberland, at times 

 a considerable distance from laud. It hence seems probable 

 that many pass this portion of the year at points far to the 

 southward of Greenland." 



HABITS. The Harp Seal is remarkable alike for its abun- 

 dance and its pelagic and roving habits. Eminently gregarious 

 at all seasons, and doubtless outnumbering all the other species 

 together, it forms the chief basis of the great sealing industry 

 of the northern seas. It is, however, as already shown, no- 

 where a permanent resident, and during its periodical journey- 

 ings traverses a wide breadth of latitude. Although often met 

 with far out at sea, it is never seen far from the floating ice- 

 fields, it generally keeping near the edges of the drifting ice. 

 It appears never to resort to the shores and to be seldom met 

 with on the firm ice. This is doubtless due to the fact that, 

 unlike the Ringed and the Bearded Seals, it never forms for 

 itself an atluk or breathing-hole through the ice, and conse- 

 quently is obliged to keep near the large openings formed by 

 winds or ocean currents. It is generally regarded as less saga- 

 cious than most other species, and as submitting, without show 

 of resistance, to the attacks of the sealers. 



About the beginning of March they assemble at their favorite 

 breeding stations, selecting for this purpose immense ice-fields 

 far from land. Their best known breeding-grounds are the ice- 

 packs off the eastern coast of Newfoundland, and about the 

 island of Jan Mayeu. A few are said to breed on the floating 

 ice in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and there are doubtless nu- 

 merous small outlying colonies in various parts of the North At- 

 lantic and Arctic waters. Mr. Carroll states that off the New- 

 foundland coast the young are chiefly born between the 5th 

 and 10th of March, or about a week earlier than is the case 



