276 FUR-SEAL OF COMMERCE. 



of November to wait the arrival of the females, who 

 of necessity must soon follow, for the purpose of 

 bringing forth their young. These, in the early 

 part of December, begin to land ; and they are no 

 sooner out of the water, than they are taken posses- 

 sion of by the males, who have many serious battles 

 with each other in procuring their respective sera- 

 glios ; and by a peculiar instinct they carefully 

 protect the females under their charge, during the 

 whole period of gestation. By the end of Decem- 

 ber all the female Seals have accomplished the pur- 

 pose of their landing. The time of gestation may 

 be considered nearly twelve months ; and they sel- 

 dom have more than one at a time, which they 

 suckle and rear apparently with great affection. 

 By the middle of February the young are able to 

 take the water, and after being taught to swim by 

 the mother, they abandon them on the shore, where 

 they remain till their coats of fur and hair are com- 

 pleted. During the latter end of February, what 

 are called the Dog-Seals go on shore; these are 

 the young Seals of the two preceding years, and such 

 males as, from their want of age and strength, are 

 not allowed to attend the pregnant females. These 

 young Seals come on shore for the purpose of re- 

 newing their annual coats, which being done, by 

 the end of April they take the water, and scarcely 

 *ny are seen on shore again till the end of June, 

 when some young males come up, and go off alter- 

 nately. They continue to do this for six or seven 

 weeks, and the shores are then again abandoned till 



