82 THE COURTSHIP OF ANIMALS 



are the first to seek the " rookeries," or breeding grounds, 

 taking up their territory a full month before the cows 

 arrive. Later, the younger bulls appear, and the more 

 daring endeavour to force their way through the ranks 

 of those who have already taken up positions. This 

 often leads to fighting, but more usually nothing further 

 than " blufiing " is indulged in, though it is commonly 

 supposed that very severe engagements take place. This 

 seems, however, to be only occasionally true. In due 

 course, generally about the second week in June, the cows 

 begin to arrive, at first in straggling numbers, but soon 

 the main body puts in an appearance, and before the end 

 of the month many thousands of both sexes are crowded 

 along the foreshore. But yet, contrary to the generally- 

 accepted belief, no serious fighting takes place. The bulls 

 quietly seize the females as they arrive. It would seem 

 that the first arrival serves as a focus of attraction for all 

 later comers landing in the vicinity. The bull holding 

 the most advantageous post — that is to say, that nearest 

 the best landing-place — starts the collection and, uninten- 

 tionally, the distribution of the cows. Having seized 

 the first arrival, he places her by his side. As the later 

 females arrive he gives each a most cordial welcome, and 

 then proceeds to round up his harem. But soon he has 

 more wives than he can continue to control. Do what 

 he will, he cannot be in two places at once ; and thus it 

 is that in rushing off to chastise some covetous neighbour, 

 one or more bulls on the opposite side of his harem pro- 

 ceed to make captures from his horde. And this system 

 of abduction goes on over the whole rookery till all the 

 cows have been appropriated, leaving a crowd of envious 

 bachelors in the background who have not yet developed 

 either courage or strength to secure mates for themselves. 



