96 BULLETIN OF THE 



color when she first leaves the water is a dark steel-mixed on the hack, 

 the sides and breast being white ; but she gradually changes somewhat, 

 and in eight or ten days after landing becomes dark brown on the back, 

 and bright orange on the breast, sides, and throat. Hence it is easy to 

 distinguish those that have just arrived from those that have been sev- 

 eral days on the shore. The female breeds the third year, and is full- 

 grown at four years. 



The yearlings weigh from forty to fifty pounds, and are dark brown 

 with a lighter shade on the throat and breast. The ages of those 

 between one and six years old are easily distinguished by the differ- 

 ences in size and state of development of the animal-. The repro- 

 ductive organs of the male are fully developed the fourth year, and 

 it is mainly by males of this age that the fertilization of the females is 

 effected. Copulation, described more fully later, usually takes place in 

 the water. 



The breeding-rookeries, which are frequented exclusively by the old 

 males and females with their pups, occupy the belt of loose rocks along 

 the shores between the high-water line and the base of the cliffs or 

 uplands, and vary in width from five to forty rods. The sand beaches 

 are used only as temporary resting-places, and for play-grounds by the 

 younger seals ; these beaches being neutral ground, where the old and 

 infirm or the wounded may lay undisturbed. 



The old male appears to return each year to the same rock so long 

 as he is able to maintain his position. The native chiefs affirm that 

 one seal, known by his having lost one of his flippers, came seventeen 

 successive years to the same rock.* 



Those under six years are never allowed by the old ones on these 

 places. They usually swim in the water along shore all day, and at 

 night go on the upland above the rookeries and spread themselves 

 out, like flocks of sheep, to re.-t. 



* Dr. Newberry states (United States Pnrifie, Railroad Surveys and Explorations, 

 Vol. VI, Zoology, p. 50, 1857) that Dr. William 0. Ayres of San Francisco presented a 

 skull of a " sea lion" to the California Academy of Science, obtained by him during a 

 visit to the Farallone Islands in June, is.",:., concerning which he mad.' the following 

 remarks, which tend to corroborate Captain Bryant's opinion that the seals return year 

 after year to the snnc breeding-grounds. Dr. Ayres observes: " The specimen is of in- 

 terest as illustrating, in one particular, the habits of these animals. The left zygomatic 

 arch has been perforated by a bullet, and the lower part of the left inferior maxillary 

 bone by another; both these injuries having been received so long since that the action 



