THE NORTHERN SEA-BEAR 709 



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their offspring with marked indifference; and a cub which has strayed a short dis- 

 tance from the station of the father may be killed before the eyes of the mother 

 without evoking any concern on her part. Although the males will often rush 

 right into the middle of a whole party of cubs, it is but seldom that any of the lat- 

 ter are killed. 



After the birth of their offspring, the females appear to make frequent visits to 

 the sea, usually returning close to the spot where their cubs were left, and singling 

 out their own offspring by its cries without a moment's hesitation. The cubs are 

 occustomed at an early period to collect in large numbers, while from the latter part 

 of September to the time of departure in November, they assemble together in tens 

 of thousands. Even among such numbers, the female instantly recognizes the 

 voice of her own offspring, and promptly makes her way by thrusting right and left 

 to that spot in the assembly where it may happen to be. It is said that the cubs 

 themselves do not know their own mothers, but as they incessantly utter their cry 

 at short intervals, the females have no difficulty when returning from the sea in 

 finding their offspring. 



Between the end of July and the close of the first week in August, the seal 

 colonies have entirely altered in appearance, owing to the breaking up of the various 

 family parties. The old males leave their stations, and betake themselves to the 

 sea, in a very emaciated condition; the majority of them not returning to the land. 

 Such, however, as do make a second visit are in fine condition, and have grown a 

 new and brilliant coat of fur. The return visit does not take place till the end of 

 September; and the males then prefer to congregate on the beach, instead of going 

 up to their old ground. After the departure of the old males in the beginning of 

 August, the females, cubs, and those males which did not succeed in obtaining 

 wives, take possession of the entire seal area in a very disorderly manner; while 

 their numbers are augmented by the landing of a host of young males which had 

 hitherto been prevented by their elder brethren from obtaining a footing on shore. 

 At this time three-fourths of the females are generally in the water, only coming 

 ashore for short intervals to look after their cubs. They lie idly in the waves, now 

 and then lazily rolling over, and continually scratching their sides and backs 

 with their flippers. After the first week in August the cubs nearest the shore make 

 their first attempts at swimming, but are extremely awkward, and quickly tire with 

 their efforts. Soon, however, they become adepts in the art, and may then be seen 

 sporting and frolicking in the water with the greatest apparent enjoyment. By the 

 middle of September all the cubs have become thoroughly familiar with the water, 

 and have entirely deserted the higher grounds to take up a position on the rocks 

 and beaches near the water's edge, previously unoccupied by any of the seals. 

 Finally, in November the islands are deserted by the great mass of the sea-bears, 

 although some do not leave for their southerly migration until driven off by the 

 snow and ice, as late as the end of December or the twelfth of January. 



The preceding observations relate almost exclusively to the old males, the fe- 

 males, and the cubs; but a few words are necessary as to the young males under six 

 years of age, which are known to the sealers as "bachelors." In the early part of 

 the season these come out of the sea in detachments of from a hundred to a thousand 



