152 MARINE MAMMALS OF TEE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
shore ; then, passing through the surf, they collect upon the beaches, and divide 
into families, or rookeries, as far as practicable. These families, or divisions, 
are guarded by the "wigs," who can only maintain their authority and position 
at the expense of frequent pitched battles with others of their sex who may 
attempt to displace them. They also keep a watchful eye over the numerous 
"clapmatches" under their charge; and should one attempt to take to the water, 
she is immediately driven back, and frequently suffers from the savage bites of her 
master for attempting to escape. It is no unusual occurrence, in the height of the 
season, to see two full-grown "wigs" fight by the hour, exhibiting much tact in 
their assaults upon each other, both endeavoring to gain advantage by some adroit 
movement — at times making a savage lock with their mouths, or seizing each other 
by the fore flippers, or gashing necks and bodies with their sharp, tusk -like teeth. 
Sometimes we have seen several old males together on a separate beach, who 
were cut in every direction, and apparently had retired from the main herd, being 
unable to continue the fight in consequence of wounds received. 
Frequently, many thousands of seals congregate on the same island. They 
prefer remote, isolated situations, often upon barren rocks or islands, the shores of 
which are surrounded by a high surf, in which they delight to play. They some- 
times ascend high, precipitous rocks, where it is next to impossible for man to 
follow them. Their food consists of fish and a variety of other marine productions, 
and small stones or pebbles are found in their maws. When a great number are 
collected on shore, their barking and howling is almost deafening ; and when 
passing to leeward of a seal island, the odor arising from it is anything but pleasant. 
We have before spoken of the wide geographical distribution of the Fur Seals, 
and of their gregarious propensities. We may add, likewise, from our own observa- 
tion as well as the expressed opinion of several experienced sealing- masters, that 
their natural migrations extend over a great expanse of the ocean ; and if they are 
unusually disturbed in their favorite haunts for several successive seasons, they are 
quite sure to seek some distant or unknown place, where they can congregate 
unmolested by man. 
The females have great affection for their young, which may be more manifested 
on a coast where, by almost constant hunting from year to year, they have become 
wild and shy. 
On one of the San Benito Islands, on the coast of Lower California, we once 
watched with interest a "clapmatch" and her pup, which was but a few weeks 
old. She approached the shore cautiously, with her little one nestling about her ; 
and while "hauling" upon the beach, she was constantly on the lookout, but at 
