FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, I914. 



67 



Although branded 2-year-old males were seen in numbers in 1914, females with 



brands were observed in only 10 instances, probably because the females remain on 



land but a short time. The first branded females were seen on Polovina on July 19. 



In company with some 20 others apparently of the same age, three of these branded 



animals were observed on a gravel beach beneath a low bluff at the north end of the 



rookery. They were in charge of a small 5-year-old bull who made a futile effort to 



hold them and then followed as they all rushed into the sea. During the next 10 days a 



few females, believed to be 2-year-olds, were seen but none branded. On August i, in 



a drive from Reef rookery, a branded female was accidently killed. On August 1 1 a 



branded female was noted near Rock 14 on Gorbatch wandering over the breeding 



ground obviously unattached to any particular place. Another seen on Reef August 1 3 



was among some older cows apparently held by an old bull, but, as the old cows made 



for the water, the bull followed and a young bull quickly made advances to the 2-year-old 



cow which remained. On the Tolstoi sands August 25 a branded cow was found among 



the bachelors being harassed by a 3-year-old whose attentions were vigorously resented, 



the cow tumbling about plainly seeking a place where she might be undisturbed. Still 



later, on August 28, two branded cows were seen playing together in the irregular mass 



of cows, pups, and roving bachelors on the breeding ground of Reef Rookery. Late in 



the season, on November 17, as reported by telegraph, a branded 2-year-old female was 



accidently killed in a food drive from Tolstoi rookery. The sizes and weights of the 



2-year-old females which died through overheating or by accident in drives in 1914 are 



as follows : 



Measurements and weights of 2-year-oUl females. 



<» The determination of the age of the unbranded animals is made positive by examination of the skulls which were preserved 

 and compared with those of the branded animals. 



*> Although no other weights of 2-year-old females were obtained, it was evident that this was an exceptionally small example; 

 until its skull was examined it was thought to be a yearling. 



c Measured and weighed by H. C. Fassett. 



THE 3-YEAR.OLD BACHELORS. 



The presence of numerous branded 2-year-olds of known age in 1914 made the 

 identification of the 3-year-olds comparatively certain. Owing to the importance of 

 this class as the one from which killings and reserves are taken, a special effort was 

 made to determine its characteristics. With this end in view, a large number of sup- 

 posed 3-year-olds killed for food were carefully measuied and their skins weighed. 

 In addition the complete skull of each was preserved and tagged with a number corre- 

 sponding to the number attached to the skin. These skulls were then brought to the 

 National Museum and there prepared for study. In the same way, skulls were pre- 

 served of the branded 2-year-olds taken and of a small number regarded by the natives 

 as 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, and 6-year-olds. Using these skulls as a check on the 

 measurements taken in the field, it was possible to determine with a high degree of 



