ALASKA. 129 



' more than two-thirds of liis whole weight, nnd in this loii^^ 

 thick neck aiul ioie limbs is embodied the larger portion of his 

 strength ; when on land, with the fore feet he does all climbing 

 over ro(;ks, over the grassy hnmmocks back of the rookery, the 

 hind llipi)ers being gathered n[) alter every second step forward, 

 as described in the manner of walking ; these fore feet are the 

 propelling power when in water, almost exclusively, the hinder 

 ones being used as rudders chielly. 



The covering to the body is composed of two coats, one being 

 of short, crisp, glistening over-hair, and the other a close, soft, 

 elastic pelage, or fur, which gives distinctive value to the pelt. 



At this season of first " hauling up" in the spring, the pre- 

 vailing color of the bulls, after they dry off and have been ex- 

 posed to the w^eather, is a dark, dull brown, with a si)rinkliug 

 of lighter brown-black, and a number of hoary *or frosted-gray 

 coats ; on the shoulders the over-hair is either a gray or rufous- 

 ocher, called the '^ wig ; " these colors are most intense upon 

 the back of the head, neck, and spine, being lighter underneath. 

 The skin of the muzzle and flippers, a dark bluish black, fading 

 to a reddish and purplish tint in some. The ears and tail are 

 also similar in tint to the body, being in the case of the former 

 a trifle lighter; the ears on a bull fur-seal are from an inch to 

 an inch and a half in length ; the. pavilions tightly rolled up on 

 themselves so that they are similar in shape and size to the lit- 

 tle finger on the human hand, cut off at the second (phalangeal) 

 joint,, a shade more cone-shaped, for they are greater in diame- 

 ter at the base than at the tip. 



I think it probable that the animal has and exerts the power 

 of compressing or dilating this scroll-like pavilion to its ear, 

 accordingly as it dives deep or rises in the water; and also, I 

 am quite sure that the hair-seal has this control over the meatus 

 externus^ from what I have seen of it : but I have not been able 

 to verify it in either case by observation ; but such opportunity 

 as I have had, gives me undoubted proof of the greatest keen- 

 ness in hearing ; for it is impossible to approach one, even when 

 sound asleep ; if you make any noise, frequently no matter how 

 slight, the alarui will be given instantly by the insignificant- 

 looking auditors, and the animal, rising up with a single motion 

 erect, gives you a stare of astonishment, and at this season of 

 defiance, together with incessent surly roaring, growling, and 

 *' spitting." 



This spitting, as 1 call it, is by no means a fair or full expres- 



9 AL 



