92 HABITS OF THE ALASKAN SEAL. 



oJomuis"'" ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^' ^^tween the rocks are sometimes 

 found smooth spaces of groimd, but in no case 

 are these areas of any extent, mid they vary 

 greatly in size. That these rough, uneven shores 

 are chosen for the breeding grounds is probably 

 because the bowlders act as a protection to the 

 new-born seals from the surf and storms,^ and 

 also because the smoother rocks offer convenient 

 resting places for the female seals in parturition.^ 



"Hnniing The " liauliug grounds" (areas occupied by 



the nonbreeding seals) are the sandy beaches 

 at one side of the breeding grounds, or the 

 smoother spaces back of and contiguous to the 

 breeding seals.^ The areas covered by the rook- 

 eries on the respective islands vary considerably, 

 beinof in the ratio of about seven or eiofht on St. 

 Paul to one on St. Greorge. St. Paul is much 

 lower than St. George, the shores are broader, 

 and more territory is available upon it for occu- 

 pation by seals than on the latter, which accounts 

 in a measure for the disproportion in seal popu- 

 lation on the two islands.* The former island has 

 ten rookeries (the largest being the Northeast 

 Point Rookery), and the latter has five.^ 



' S. N. Bnynitsky, Vol. II, p. 21. 



^ J. Stanley Browu,Vol. II, p. 15. 



3 J. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, p. 12 ; Samuel Falcone r, Vol. II, p. 1G4. 



< J. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, p. 11, 



' J. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, p. 13. 



