POWEKS OF FEKTILIZATION. 137 



In about the sarae length of time* after the birth of their one pup 

 they have coition with the male, upon the rooker- 

 ies, and then return to the water to feed. The s. B. Nettleton, p. 75. 

 bull — the lord of the harem — remains on the rook- 

 ery during the entire season of about four months, protecting the 

 young and preventing the invasion of his domain by neighboring bulls 

 and from the young and vigorous bachelors who have not yet reached 

 the age and condition of strength to enable them to cope successfully 

 with the older males, who, by reason of their superior strength, are able 

 to hold their position against all comers. 



The male breeding seals, or bulls, begin to haul out on the breeding 

 rookeries early in May, and they come in more 

 and more rapidly as the month advances, and se- l. a. Koyes, p. 81. 

 lecting their respective stations lie down and 



sleep almost continuously until within a few days of the coming of the 

 females or cows, when they assume a sitting posture and set up a bel- 

 lowing noise peculiar to themselves, which I suppose to be a "call" to 

 the approaching herd of cows. It is at this time the bull appears at his 

 best and in his most aggressive mood, and none but the physically 

 strong and successful are allowed to remain within striking distance 

 of the veterans. 



The cows begin to haul out in June, and practically they are all on 

 the breeding rookeries by July 15. Immediately on arriving they are 

 taken possession of by the bulls, the strongest and most aggressive se- 

 curing the greatest number, and guarding with jealous care and in- 

 creasing vigilance. 



The bulls maintain their positions on the rookeries from the time 

 they arrive till the cows come by most bloody bat- 

 tles, and after the cows commence arriving they Danl. Webster,p. 183. 

 are continually contending for their possessions. 



During these conitlcts they are often seriously wounded, and their ex- 

 ertions are far more violent than any effort made by a young male dur- 

 ing a " drive." 



We find some barren female seals — female seals too old to breed, 

 or that for some reason have not bred. I have 



often wondered that there are not more barren . ™- ^wTsos^ '" 

 seals. The males on the islands will secure ' 

 twenty or twenty-five females, and the male being constantly engaged 

 in fighting, it is likely that many of the females are neglected. 



POWERS OF FERTILIZATION. 



Page 109 of The Case. 



From my observation as to the vitality of male seals I believe that it 

 is difficult to determine with absolute accuracy 

 the capacity of the bull for rookery service, as it j. Stanley Brown, p. 14. 

 must in large measure depend upon the personal 



equasion of the individual, but I am nevertheless of the opinion that 

 a conservative estimate would be that he could serve without difficulty 

 at least one cow per day during his stay upon the rookery. Possibly 



•Forty-eight hours. 



