236 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



seal increased in numbers till at the present time they are probably as numerous as 

 ever. The hunting is now regulated by Government, so that there is no risk of them 

 ever being exterminated again. 



Annual "haul out". Seal commence to haul out on to the beaches in small numbers 

 during the last part of August, but the times for the various parts of the island vary 

 considerably. For example, in 1925 the seal had hauled out on the beaches from 

 Cumberland Bay to Cape Disappointment and many pups were born by the end of 

 August, but on the south side of the island hardly any were out until the first week 

 in September. 



From the middle of August onwards the cows haul out on the beaches and lie together 

 in small parties awaiting the birth of their pups. These are born about a week after the 

 mother hauls out, and the groups of cows form the beginning of the harems that the 

 bulls collect later on. As soon as the cows arrive the bulls commence to haul out, 

 though in smaller numbers. At first they lie by themselves on the beaches, keeping 

 apart from the cows (Plate XIX, fig. i), but soon after the first pups are born they 

 join the cows, many of which have not yet given birth to their pups. 



Birth of the Pups. The pups are born from the last week in August to the end of 

 September and some even in October, so that the season lasts for six weeks or more. 

 Most of the late pups are first ones, their mothers having been impregnated for the 

 first time late in the last season. The virgin cows haul out much later than the mothers 

 and join the harems already formed on the beaches. Twins were not observed, one pup 

 to each cow being the rule. The cows are not impregnated at once after the pups are 

 born, though the bulls attempt to cover them. The cow will not take the bull until 

 a week or ten days after the birth of the pup. 



At birth the pups are covered with a black woolly coat (Plate XX, fig. i). This is 

 shed, the change commencing about a fortnight after birth, and becoming complete in 

 about five weeks. The black coat is first shed on the back, then on the belly and last 

 on the head and face. The coat which is exposed when the black coat is shed is of soft 

 hair, grey in colour, and lasts until the moult of the following season. 



The umbilical cord, which is black and 2 ft. long, is sloughed off about three days 

 after birth. The piece attached to the new-born pup is from 12 to 18 in. long (Plate XX, 

 fig. i). It was not ascertained if the cord is bitten asunder by the mother at birth, or 

 if it is merely broken, but it is fair to assume that it is broken, first because of the 

 ragged appearance presented by the free end, and secondly because the teeth of the 

 mothers are capable of being used for seizing objects but not for cutting them. The foetal 

 membranes and large fleshy placentas are a conspicuous feature of the rookeries at the 

 beginning of the season when the pups are being born. Much of this rubbish is eaten 

 by the Gulls, Skuas, Giant Petrels and Sheathbills. A discharge of mucus, at first 

 discoloured with blood, continues to ooze from the vulvas of the cows for several days 

 after the birth of the pups. 



Suckling. In giving suck the cow lies on her side, and the pup sucks the area 

 surrounding the teat, which is shortly protruded (Plate XX, fig. 2). The pups suck for 



