132 THE BULLS. 



islands, who told me that they had at one time cut the ears of some 

 pups so that they could be readily distinguished; that when the pups 

 were grown they had noticed each one on a particular rookery, and that 

 in the years following the rookery had the same occupant. 



Toward the latter part of October the " wigs," or full-grown males, 



begin to congregate on the breeding rookeries. 



Geo. Comer, p. 597 A "wig" weighs anywhere from 250 to 500 pounds, 



(Antarctic). an( i mus t Vj e f our or nve years old before he has 



strength and endurance enough to maiutain a 



place on the rookery. 



The battles for position between the rival "wigs" are most fierce, 

 but at last they all get their places, and await the coming of the " clap 

 matches," or females. 



C. L. Fowler, p. 25. The bull seals arrive on the islands from the 

 latter part of April to June 15. 



John Fratis, p. 108. The seals came to the islands in spring and they 



came from the southward. 

 The first bulls arrive late in April or very early in May, and they are 

 coming along till June. 



W. S. Hereford, p. 36. The first arrival of bulls is about the same time 

 as formerly, but after that they fill in very much 

 slower. 



L. Kimmel, p. 173. The bulls (males years old and upwards) be- 



gan to come to the island the first part of May. 



The seals came to the islands in the spring and they come from the 



south through the passes of the Aleutian Islands. 

 Mcoli Krukoff,p. 133. The baUa c £ me flrst iu May> 



The bull seal arrives at the island early in May, and takes his place 

 on the breeding rookery, and he stays there until 

 Aggei Kushin,p. 129. August or September without food. 



The seals come to the islands every year from the southward, through 

 the passes of the Aleutian Islands; aud the bulls 

 AntonMelovedoff,p.lU.rea>ch. the islands late in April or early in May, 

 and they continue to haul out till June. They 

 select their stations on the rookeries, and I believe they generally re- 

 turn to the spot they occupied the previous year. 



I have observed certain bull seals return year after year to the same 



place on the rookeries, and 1 have been informed 



T.F.Morgan, p. 61. by natives, that have lived on the islands, that 



this is a well-known fact and has been observed 



by them so often that they stated it as an absolute fact. 



The first arrivals of seals at the islands usually take place early in May. 

 These are of the class of large bulls which oc- 

 Jno. M. Morton, p. 66, cupy pos i t i olls 011 the rookeries. 



