MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 99 



Many of the females on their arrival appear desirous of returning to 

 some particular male, and frequently climb the outlying rocks to over- 

 look the rookeries, calling out and listening as if for a familiar voice. 

 Then changing to another place they do the same again, until some 

 "bachelor" seal swimming in the water approaches and drives her on 

 shore, often compelling her to land against her will. Here comes in the 

 duty of the " bachelor " seals. They swim all day along the shore es- 

 corting and driving the females on to the rocks as fast as they arrive. 

 As soon as a female reaches the shore, the nearest male goes down to 

 meet her, making meanwhile a noise like the clucking of a hen to her 

 chickens. He bows to her and coaxes her until he gets between her 

 and the water so that she cannot escape him. Then his manner changes, 

 and with a harsh growl he drives her to a place in his harem. This 

 continues until the lower row of harems is nearly full. Then the males 

 higher up select the time when their more fortunate neighbors are off 

 their guard to steal their wives. This they do by taking them in their 

 mouths and lifting them over the heads of the other females, and careful- 

 ly placing them in their own harem, carrying them as cats do their kit- 

 tens. Those still higher up pursue the same method until the whole 

 space is occupied. Frequently a struggle ensues between two males for 

 possession of the same female, and both seizing her at once pull her in 

 two or terribly lacerate her with their teeth. When the space is all 

 filled, the old male walks around complaisantly reviewing his family, 

 scolding those who crowd or disturb the others, and fiercely driving off 

 all intruders. This surveillance always keeps him actively occupied. 



In two or three days after landing, the females give birth to one pup 

 each,* weighing about six pounds. It is entirely black, and remains of 

 this color the whole season. The young are quite vigorous, even at 

 birth, nursing very soon after they are born. The mother manifests a 

 strong attachment for her own young, and distinguishes its cry among 

 thousands. The voice of the female is like the bleating of a sheep, and 

 the cry of the pup resembles that of a lamb.f 



* A single young at a birth seems to be the general rule in this family; ea<es where 

 two are produced seeming to be, so far as known, exceptional. The period of gestation 

 is stated by different authors as being nine to twelve months, varying in the differing 

 species, from twelve in the fur seals to nine or ten in the hair seals. — j. a. a. 



t By several different writers the voice of the male is compared to the roaring of the 

 lion ; that of the female to the bleating of a sheep ; and that of the young to the cry of a 

 lamb, not only in the case of the present species, but also of their southern allies. 



