114 HABITS OF THE ALASKAN SEAL. 



Number of pups but oiiCG.^ TliG yoiiuff at birth are about 



atabiitli. _ ^ ^ o 



equally divided as to sex.^ 



A cow as soon as a pup is brought forth 

 begins to give it nourishment,^ the act of nurs- 

 ing taking place on land and never in water,* 

 and she will only suckle her own offspring.^ 

 This fact is verified by all those who have 

 studied seal life or had experience upon the 

 islands.^ Mr. Morgan says : '' The pup does not 

 appear to recognize its mother, attempting to 

 draw milk from any cow it comes in contact 

 with; but a mother will at once recognize her 

 own pup and will allow no other to niu'se her. 

 This I know from often observing a cow fight 

 off other pups who approached her, and search 

 out her own pup from among them, which I 

 think she recognizes by its smell and cry."^ Mr. 

 Falconer says: "A mother will at once recognize 

 her pup by its cry, hobbling over a thousand 

 Nourisiics oniy^^®^^^^^^ pups to rcacli her own, and every other 

 her own pup. a^^proacliiug her save this little animal she will 



' Vol. II, p. 165. 



2 Report of American Bering Sea Commissioners, post, p. 326. 



3 J. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, p. 15. 



■• Report of American Bering Sea Commissioners, 2'>ost, p. 326. 

 See also Appendix C of same, 2)ost., p. 387. 



«>W. H. Dall, Vol. II, p. 23; H. H. Mclutyre, Vol. II, p. 41; Karp 

 Buteriu, Vol. II, p. 104. 



ti Vol. II, p. 62. * 



