ARRIVAL OF THE COWS. 133 



Upon their return to the islands in the spring the seals approach the 

 land confidently and their occupancy of the rook- 

 eries is regular and systematic. That the male Jno. M.Morton, p. 70. 

 seal returns year by year to the same familiar spot 



or ground on the rookeries, when it is possible for him to do so, appears 

 to be probable. I have seen this fact demonstrated in certain instances 

 without any possibility of error; and when this is considered, and his 

 well-known systematic and methodic habits are taken into considera- 

 tion, the theory that such is the prevailing practice, at least among the 

 rookery bulls, seems a most natural and plausible one. 



I do not know by what instinct they were led to this remote region to 

 which they yearly return. The bulls begin to ar- 

 rive upon the breeding rookeries about the 1st to s. R.Nettleton, p. 75. 

 the 10th of May; they then select their locations, 

 which they hold during the season. 



Early in May the bulls approach the islands and after cautiously 

 and carefully reconnoitering the surroundings 

 haul out and select their stations on the rookeries, J- C. Redpath,p. 148. 

 where they patiently await tbe coming of the cows. 



* * * In my opinion, the bull seal returns to the spot he occupied 

 the preceding years, and I know of several instances where he could be 

 distinguished by the loss of an eye or flipper, in which he actually did 

 return for a series of years to the same spot. 



The bulls generally begin to arrive on the island Thomas F. Ryan, p. 174. 

 during the first part of the month of May. 



ARRIVAL OF THE COWS. 



Page 108 of The Case. 



About one month after the arrival of the bulls or in the first days of 

 June the females begin to appear. In 1801 the 



maximum of daily arrivals was reached froni June j. Stanley Brown, p. 13. 

 24 to 28. 



The time of the arrival of the virgin cows is not easy to determine, 

 but from my observation my present conclusion is that they arrive 

 with the cows and for a while spend their time in the water or on the 

 land adjacent to the rookery margin. 



The females or " clap-matches " come a month 

 later and are captured by the "wigs" who get as Jos. w. Budington, p. 

 many as they can take care of. We never killed 595 {Antarctic). 

 the seals until the females had arrived. 



Last of all in early June came the mothers or ^ .. _ , . . 7 . . 

 " matkie " which were in haste to reach the land rtZ> „ 2 06. 

 to be delivered of their young. 



The female seals begin to arrive the latter part S. N. Buynitslcy. 

 of May, going directly to the breeding rookeries. 



About the 10th of November the females begin Geo. Comer, p. 598 

 to arrive, and land on the breeding rookeries. {Antarctio). 



