46 ' ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



The radical difference iu the form and action of the hind feet can 

 not fail to strike the eye at once; they are one-seventh longer than the 

 fore hands, and very much lighter and more slender; they resemble, 

 in broad terms, a i:)air of black kid gloves flattened out and shriveled 

 as they lie in their box. 



There is no suggestion of fingers on the fore hands; but the hind 

 feet seem to be toes run into ribbons, for they literally flap about 

 involuntarily from that point where the cartilaginous i^rocesses unite 

 with the iDlialangeal bones. Tlie hind feet are also merged in the 

 body at their junction with it, like those anterior; nothing can be 

 seen of the leg above the tarsal joint. 



The shape of the hind flipper is strikinglj^ like that of a human 

 foot, i^rovided the latter were drawn out to a length of 20 or 22 inches, 

 the instej) flattened down, and the toes run out into thin, membrane- 

 ous, oval-tipped points, only skin thick, leaving 3 strong, cylindrical, 

 grayish, horn-colored nails, half an inch long each, back inches 

 from these skinny toe ends, without any sign of nails to mention on 

 the outer big and little toes. 



On the upper side of this hind foot the body hair comes down to 

 that point where the metatarsus and phalangeal bones join and fade 

 out. From this junction the phalanges, about 6 inches down to the 

 nails above mentioned, are entirely bare, and stand ribl>ed up in bold 

 relief on the membrane which uuites them, as the web to a duck's 

 foot. The nails just referred to mark the ends of the phalangeal bones, 

 and their union in turn with the cartilaginous processes, which run 

 raj3idly tapering and flattening out to the ends of the thin toe points. 

 Now, as we are looking at this fur seal's motion and progression, that 

 which seems most odd is the gingerly manner (if I may be allowed to 

 use the expression) in which it carries these hind flipj^ers. They are 

 held out at right angles from the body directly opposite the pelvis, 

 the toe ends or flaps slightly waving, curled, and drooping over, sup- 

 l^orted daintih', as it were, above the earth, the animal only suffering 

 its weiglit behind to fall upon its heels, which are themselves opposed 

 to each other, scarcely 5 inches apart. 



We shall, as we see this seal again later in the season, have to 

 notice a different mode of progression and bearing, both Avhen it is 

 lording over its harem, or when it grows shy and restless at the end 

 of the breeding season, then faint, emaciated, and dejected; but we 

 will now proceed to observe him in the order of his arrival and that 

 of his family. His behavior during the long period of fasting and 

 unceasing activity and vigilance, and other cares which devolve upon 

 him as the most eminent of all polygamists in the brute world, I shall 

 carefully relate; and to fully comprehend the method of this exceed- 

 ingly interesting animal, it will be frequently necessary for the reader 

 to refer to my sketch maps of its breeding grounds or rookeries, and 

 , the islands. 



Arrival at the seal-grounds: Coming in of the bulls. — The 

 adult males are the first examples of the CaUorhinus to arrive in the 

 spring on the seal ground, which has been deserted by all of them 

 since the close of the preceding year. 



Between the 1st and otli of May, usually, a few males will be found 

 scattered over the rookeries, pretty close to the water. They are, at 

 this time, quite shy and sensitive, seeming not yet satisfied with the 

 land; and a great many spend day after day idly swimming out 

 among the breakers, a little distance from the shore, before they come 

 to it, perha]3S somewhat reluctant at first to enter upon the assiduous 



