EEPORT OF AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS. 325 



5. The old (breeding-) males reach the islands ArriviUofbreed- 



iiig males at is- 



much earlier, the first coming- the last week iniuiids. 

 April or early in May. They at once land and 

 take stands on the rookeries, where they await 

 the arrival of the females. Each male (called a 

 bull) selects a large rock on or near which he re- 

 mains nntil August, unless driven off by stronger 

 bulls, never leaving for a single instant night or 

 day, and taking neither food nor water. Both 

 before and for sometime after the arrival of the 

 females (called cows) the bulls fight savagely ,. Bowies. '''' ^^'^ 

 among themselves for positions on the rookeries 

 and for possession of the cows, and many are 

 severely wounded. All the bulls are located by 

 June 20. 



G. The bachelor seals (holluschickie) begin to j^^^^^j?;-'^^^;'." J^^^^J: 

 iiirrive early in May, and large numbers are on ^ "^ ^'^^ **' 

 the hauling grounds by the end of May or first 

 week of June. They begin to leave the islands 

 in November, but many remain into December 

 or January, and sometimes into February. 



7. The cows begin arriving early in June, and Arrival of cowa, 

 soon appear in large schools or droves, immense 

 numbers taking their places on the rookeries each 

 day between the middle and end of the month, 

 the precise dates varying with the weather. They 

 assemble about the old bulls in compact groups 

 called harems. Tlie harems are complete early 



