HABITS. 351 







It is the usual prelude to their combats, and follows somewhat 

 in this way : when the two disputants are nearly within reach- 

 ing or striking distance, they make a number of feints or false 

 passes at one another, with the mouth wide open and lifting 

 the lips or snarling, so as to exhibit the glistening teeth, and 

 with each pass they expel the air so violently through the 

 larynx as to make a rapid choo-choo-choo sound, like the steam- 

 puffe in the smoke-stack of a locomotive when it starts a heavy 

 train, and especially when the driving-wheels slip on the rail. 



''AH the bulls now have the power and frequent inclination 

 to utter four entirely distinct calls or notes a hoarse, resonant 

 roar, loud and long; a low gurgling growl; a chuckling, sibi- 

 lant, piping whistle, of which it is impossible to convey a.n ade- 

 quate idea, for it must be heard to be understood ; and this 

 spitting, just described. The cows* have but one note a hol- 

 low. i)rolonged, hla-a-ting call, addressed only to their pups ; on 

 all other occasions they are usually silent. It is something like 

 the cry of a calf or sheep. They also make a spitting sound, 

 and snort, when suddenly disturbed. The pups ' hla-at ' also, 

 with little or no variation, the sound being somewhat weaker 

 and hoarser than that of their mothers for the first two or three 

 weeks afterbirth; they, too, spit and cough when aroused sud- 

 denly from a nap or driven into a corner. A number of pups 

 crying at a short distance off bring to mind very strongly the 

 idea of a flock of sheep ' baa-aa-inr/.' 



' Indeed, so similar is the sound that a number of sheep 

 brought up from San Francisco to Saint George's Island during 

 the summer of 1873 were constantly attracted to the rookeries, 

 running in among the seals, and had to be driven away to a 

 good feeding-ground by a small boy detailed for the purpose. 



* "Without explanation I may be considered as making use of misapplied 

 terms in describing tbese animals, for the inconsistency of coupling * pups ' 

 -with 'cows' and 'bulls,' and 'rookeries' with the breeding-grounds of 

 the same, cannot fail to be noticed; but this nomenclature has been given 

 and used by the English and American whalemen ^nd sealing-parties for 

 many years, and the characteristic features of the seals suit the odd naming 

 exactly, so much so that I have felt satisfied to retain the style throughout 

 as rendering my description more intelligible, especially so to those who are 

 engaged in the business or may be hereafter. The Russians are more con- 

 sistent, but not so 'pat.' The bull is called 'see-catch,' a term implying 

 strength, vigor, fcc. ; the cow, 'matkah,' or mother; the pups, 'kotickie,' 

 or little seals ; the non-breeding males, under six and seven years, ' hoUus- 

 chickie,' or bachelors. The name applied collectively to the fur-seal by 

 them is ' morskie-kot,' or sea-cat." 



