THE COWS. 113 



less than one hundred pounds ; the age of 

 pul^erty is probably two years/ 



The exact age which is reached by a cow is Ago. 

 ]iecessarily a matter of conjecture, but micro- 

 scopic examinations under the direction of Capt 

 Bryant sliovved that some of the older females 

 had borne at least eleven to tliirteen pups.^ It 

 is therefore safe to say that a cow lives to be at 

 least fifteen years old. 



After a cow lands on the rookeries and is Harem life, 

 delivered of her pup she is jealously guarded by 

 the bull to whose harem she belongs, until 

 again fertilized,^ which probably takes place 

 Avithin two weeks.* The exact period of gesta- 

 tion is not definitely known, but is believed to 

 Ije al)0ut fifty weeks.^ 



A cow produces but one pup at a birth,'' and Niinii)fr of pujia 



at a birtli. 



Mr. ralconer adds that ''two at a bn-tli is as 

 rare an occurrence as a cow to bring forth two 

 calves, and that during his entire experience of 

 seven years he never heard of this happening 



' H. H. Mclutyre. Vol. II, p. 42; Sauiuel Falcouer, Vol. II, p. 1G5. 

 - Vol. II, p. 6. 



■■'J. Stanley Brovrn, Vol. II, p. 15. 

 ^ Samuel Falconer, Vol. II, p. 165. 



■■^Keport of American Bering Sea Commissioners, post, p. 326. 

 « W. 11. Dall, Vol. II, p. 24; T F. Morgan, Vol. II, p. G3; H. Wo 

 Mclntyrc, Vol. II, p. 133; Kcrnck Artom;inoff, Vol. II, p. 100. 

 2710 15 



