106 HABITS OF THE ALASKAN SEAL, 



s t\'im, 



Learning to There are two methods by which a puj) learns 

 to swim. One is by a "pod" of pups getting- 

 near the edge of the water and finally, after 

 repeated efforts, acquiring the use of their 

 flippers.^ Andrew Laing, already mentioned as 

 one of the seal h.unters lately examined b}' 

 Collector Milne, of the port of Victoria, British 

 Columbia, says: "They (the pups) will never 

 take to the water freely themselves for from six 

 weeks to two months."^ The other method is 

 by the mother seal taking the pup in her mouth 

 and carrying it into the water, where, after 

 several trials, it becomes able to sustain itself.^ 



Departure from After learning to swim the pup spends its time 



islands. 



on land and in the water, but the greater portion 

 is passed on land,* until its final departure, which 

 takes place generally about the middle of Novem- 

 ber,^ but the time depends a great deal upon the 

 weather.*' 

 Dependence Duriug the entire time the pups remain upon 



upon \U mother. , . t -, ^ -, -, i i i . 



the islands they are dependent solely upon their 



1 H. H. Mclutyre, Vol. II, p. 41 ; J. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, p. 16; 

 T. V. Morgan, Vol. II, p. 62. 



'^British Bine Book, U. S. No. 3 (1892), C-6635, p. 181. 



3 Samnel Falconer, Vol. II, pp. 164-165 ; Charles Bryant, Vol.11, p. 5. 



"Charles Bryant, V<d. II, p. 5* H. li. Mclntyre, Vol. II, p. 41; 

 T. F. Morgan, Vol. II, p. 62; Anton Melovedotf. Vol. II, p. 144; 

 Daniel Webster, Vol. II, p. 180. 



f^H. H. Mclntyre, A^ol. II, p. 41; Charles Bryant, Vol. II, p. 5; 

 Aggie Kiishin, Vol. II, p. 130; C. L. Fowler, Vol. II, p. 25. 



"H. II. Mclntyre, Vol. II, p. 41; Charles Bryant, Vol. II, ]>. 5; 

 Anton Melovedotr, Vol. II, pp. 144-145; John Fratis, Vol. II, p. 108. 



