22 G. E. H. BARRETT-HAMILTON [july 



Variability of Seals. 



A point which at once strikes a visitor to a seal rookery is the 

 great variability in the colour and size of the animals. There are 

 indeed limits to such variation, but within these limits the Fur Seal of 

 almost all ages cannot but be regarded as a most variable species. 

 The same is true also of skulls of the animal, and differences can 

 easily be found in specimens from the same rookery such as would, if 

 they were constant and each confined to specimens from particular 

 localities, undoubtedly warrant their division into several distinct 

 species. 



Observations on the Rookery. 



It was one of my objects to observe the first landing of the seals 

 on the islands, in order, if possible, to test for myself the trustworthi- 

 ness of Mr. Elliott's wonderfully graphic description of their habits at 

 this season. Accordingly I endeavoured to reach the islands at as 

 early a date' as possible in 1897, and actually arrived at the North 

 rookery of Bering's Island on June 20, or very soon after the appear- 

 ance of the first seals. I then visited the South rookery of the same 

 island, and pitched my tent there on June 23, with the intention 

 of remaining for at least a week. Finding, however, that the state of 

 things at the South rookery was not exactly what I needed for the 

 study of the seals, I left it on June 26, proceeding by dog-sledge to 

 the North rookery, where I arrived on June 29. Here I remained 

 four days, during which almost my whole time was spent in 

 watching the seals, chiefly at the part of the rookery known as Kishot- 

 chnaya. I was informed that there had been present on June 16, 

 13 bulls, 110 cows, 37 pups, and 5 bachelors. On June 20 I found 

 the 1 3 bulls thus disposed : — 



5 with a mass of at least 175 cows and a number of newly-born 

 pups. 



1 with 6 cows and 3 pups. 



2 with 2 cows each. 

 1 with 1 cow. 



1 lying asleep near the bachelors. 



2 alone to the south of the main patch of cows. 



1 alone in another position near the main patch of cows. 



At this date I take it that the rookery showed the condition in 

 miniature which a well-regulated rookery, of whatever size, should 

 show at the height of the season — that is to say, there were a certain 

 number of strong bulls which had appropriated to themselves large 

 harems, in this case averaging over thirty-five females each : there were 



