THE PUPS. 99 



usually occurs witliiu a day or two after the Bhth. 

 mother seal arrives cm the islauds/ aud often 

 withm a few hours.^ A young- seal at birth 

 weighs from six to eight pounds, its head being* 

 abnormally large for the size of its body f it is 

 almost black in color, being covered with a short 

 hair, which changes to a silver-gray color after 

 the pup learns to swim.^ These two grades of 

 pups are distinguished by the names "black 

 pups" and "gray pups." This coat of hair is its 

 only covering, the under coat of fur not being 

 found on the new-born seal.^ 



For the first six or eiffht weeks of its life the i."'^ijiiity to 



" 8 tvim. 



pup is confined entirely to the breeding grounds, 

 being unable to swim." Mr. Thomas F. Morgan, 

 for nearly twenty years located on the Pribilof 

 Islands as one of the agents of the lessees, states 

 that he has often seen young pups washed off by 

 the surf and drowned.^ Dr. W. L. Hereford, for 

 many years resident physician on the Pribilof 

 Islands, relates that a pup being found which 



1 Cliarles Bryant, Vol. II, p. 4. 



2 Cliarles Bryant, Vol. II, p. 4; J. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, p. 13. 

 Anton Melovedoff, Vol. II, p. 144; J. C. Eedpatli, Vol. II, p. 148. 



3 Daniel Webster, Vol. II, p. 180. 



•* Samuel Falconer, Vol. II, p. 164. 



6 J. II. Monlton, Vol. II, p. 72. 



" Anton Melovedoff, Vol. II, p. 144 ; Agffie Knshin, Vol. II, p. 129 ; 

 Karp Bntcrin, Vol. II, p. 104; .John Fratis, Vol. II, p. 108; Article 

 by Dr. Allen, Part III, Vol. I, p. 407 ; Daniel Webster, Vol. II, p. 180, 



■> Vol. II, p. Gl. 



