BIRTH. 105 



The pup when born weighs about 4 or 5 pounds, and is covered with 

 shiny black hair, beneath which there is no fur. 



When lour or five months old this black hair is Geo. ('outer, p. 598 (Aid 

 shed, and new hair of a brownish-gray color comes ardic). 

 out, and the fur appears beneath it. 



A young seal or " pup" when first born weighs from G to 8 pounds, 

 is almost black in color, and is covered with a short 

 hair, which changes to silver-gray hair when the Saml. Falconer, p. 164. 

 pup learns to swim. 



The place of birth is on the breeding grounds, which takes place soon 

 after the female lands, generally within two days. 



The pups are born soon after the cows arrive, and remain until Octo- 

 ber and November, and when they return, the fob 

 lowing season, do not stay on land much of the time. ±owier,p. _a. 



I do not know whether the mother seal has the power of voluntarily 

 restraining and postponing the involuntary act of 

 labor or not, but it would almost seem as if she w. S. Hereford, p. 35. 

 had, as on many occasions she will have but just 



dragged herself ashore when she will give birth to her young. This 

 may be a coincidence only, but when not disturbed they usually come 

 ashore with plenty of time to make themselves comfortable. 



The pups are born soon after the cows reach the Nicoli Erukoff, p. 133. 

 rookeries. 



The young seals, called " pups," are born in June and July upon the 

 grounds on these islands known as "breeding 

 rookeries." They are at birth very clumsy and n. H. Mclntyre, p. 41. 

 helpless, possessing little ability to move about on 

 land. 



Within a few days after landing (it may be but a few hours or even 

 minutes, as I have seen) the female gives birth to 



her young, but one being brought forth each year. h. W. Mclntyre, p. 136. 

 The reported occasional birth of twins is not veri- 

 fied. These little ones, "pups," as they are called, are comparatively 

 helpless, particularly awkward in movement, and, unlike the hair seal, 

 are unable to swim. 



And the pups are born soon after the cows land on the rookeries. 

 When the pup is born it is utterly helpless and 



would drown if put into water. Those born nearest Anton Helovedoff, p. 111. 

 the water are often drowned in the surf when the 

 the sea is rough in stormy weather. 



The pup seals are born on the breeding rookeries on St. Paul and St. 

 George islands during the months of June and 



July. T. F. Morgan, p. 61. 



For the first six or eight weeks of its life a pup is a land animal, 

 having a coarse hair, but no fur. This coarse 

 hair is shed before the fur appears. j. h. Moulton, p. 7? 



