SPECIES OF MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC AREA 103 



By August the harems are scattered and the bulls, which all 

 this time have ruled the harems, now leave for the water. They 

 have become greatly emaciated, having eaten no food since their 

 arrival in May. 



During the summer, the non-breeding fur seals, chiefly made 

 up of young males under six years of age, seek other sections 

 of the shore, as the old males will not tolerate them. They con- 

 gregate in great numbers at places called "hauling grounds." 

 The fur seals to be killed for their skins are picked out and 

 driven inland from these groups by the government agents. 



The Southern Fur Seal (Arctocephalus australis) has nearly 

 the same range as the southern sea lion. It occurs in the Gala- 

 pagos Islands and differs from the northern fur seal by its 

 longer muzzle and shorter, less dense hair. The underfur char- 

 acteristic of the fur seal group is present. This animal has been 

 killed in great numbers for its skin, for which reason it is now 

 rare where once it was common. 



The Australian Fur Seal (Arctocephalus doriferus) inhabits 

 the shores of southern Australia. An old male may reach a 

 length of six feet while the female is about a foot less. The 

 color of both males and females is grayish brown above, buff- 

 brown beneath ; it appears blackish when wet. The habits of the 

 animals are very similar to those of other fur seals. They have 

 been similarly persecuted for their skins. 



The Tasmanian Fur Seal (Arctocephalus tasmanicus) is 

 similar in color to the Australian fur seal. The most noticeable 

 differences are more robust bodies and larger heads of the males. 

 There is also greater contrast between the sizes of the sexes, the 

 females of this form being about the same length as females of 

 doriferus. This fur seal is found along the coast of Tasmania 

 and the southeastern coast of Australia. 



The New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus fosteri), of the 

 seas of southern New Zealand and southern Australia, has a 

 long muzzle like the southern fur seal. It is colored grizzled 

 gray, with chestnut-brown underparts, and there is generally a 



