138 THE BULLS. 



the best results would not be achieved thereby, but this capacity, taken 

 in connection with the fact that young males persistently seek their 

 opportunities upon the rookery margins and at the water's edge during 

 the entire season, leaves no doubt in my mind that no breeding female 

 leaves the island unimpregnated. This view is further borne out by 

 the fact that in the first days of rookery life 1 repeatedly counted groups 

 of female seals by the side of each of whieh lay her pup. 



Chas. Bryant, p. 6. And I am of the opinion that a bull could, if nec- 



essary, serve seventy-five to a hundred cows dur- 

 ing a season. 



I am of the opinion a bull can easily and effectively serve fifty or more 

 Sand. Falconer, P . 166. ™ws in a season, and I think at first he will fer- 

 tilize six to eight a day. 



c. F. E. Krebs, p. 195. I believe one bull capable of serving at least 

 fifteen or twenty cows, with most desirable results. 



It is my opinion that a bull is able to fertilize a hundred or more 

 cows, and this fact based upon my observations 



B.F.Scrib»er,p.89. of the habits and conditions of the males while 

 located in the rookeries. 



It is my opinion that a bull is able to serve from three to five cows a 

 day, and certainly over a hundred in a season. I 



W. B. Taylor, p. 177. have seen over forty cows at one time in a harem, 

 and the bull who possessed this harem was con- 

 tinually striving to obtain more cows. 



Then, too, the male seal must have great vitality to remain on the 

 rookeries for three months without eating or drink- 

 Daw?. Webster, p. 183. ing and with very little sleep. In spite of this drain 

 on his vital force he is able to fertilize all the 

 cows which he can get possession of, and a barren cow is a rarity. I be- 

 lieve that a bull can serve one hundred or more cows, and it is an absurd- 

 ity to think that an animal possessing such remarkable vigor could be 

 made impotent by being driven or redriven when a " Bachelor." An 

 impotent bull would have neither the inclination or vigor to maintain 

 himself on the rookeries against the fierce and vigorous possessors of 

 harems. The only bulls hauling up away from the breeding rookeries 

 are those whose extreme old age and long service have made them impo- 

 tent and useless, and I have never seen or heard tell of anything that 

 would make an exception to this rule. 



COITION. 



Page 110 of The Case. 



lam asked whether the seals copulate in the water. It is a ques- 

 tion that is often discussed at the islands, and 

 Jno. Armstrong, p. 2. neither the scientific observers nor the unscientific 

 are able to agree about it. 1 have seen seals in 

 position when it seemed to be attempted, but doubt whether it is ef- 

 fectually accomplished. If it were, 1 think we should see pups some- 

 times born late and out of season, but such is not the case. 



