HABITS. 355 



"They are noticed and received by the bulls on the water- 

 line station with much attention ; they are alternately coaxed 

 and urged up on to the rocks, and are imtnediately under the 

 most jealous supervision ; but owing to the covetous and ambi- 

 tious nature of the bulls which occupy the stations reaching 

 way back from the water-line, the little cows have a rough-and- 

 tumble time of it when they begin to arrive in small numbers 

 at first ; for no sooner is the pretty animal fiiirly established on 

 the station of bull number one, who has installed her there, he 

 perhaps sees another one of her style down in the water from 

 which she has just come, and in obedience to his polygamous 

 feeling, he devotes Idmself anew to coaxing the later arrival 

 in the same winning manner so successful in her case, when 

 bull number two, seeing bull number one off his guard, reaches 

 out with his long strong neck and picks the unhappy but pas- 

 sive creature up by the scruff of hers, just as a cat does a kit- 

 ten, and deposits her on his seraglio-ground ; then bulls number 

 three, four, and so on, in the vicinity, seeing this high-handed 

 operation, all assail one another, and especially bull number 

 two, and have a tremendous fight, perhaps for half a minute or 

 so, and during this commotion the cow generally is moved or 

 moves farther back from the water, two or three stations more, 

 where, when all gets quiet, she usually remains in -peace. Her 

 last lord and master, not having the exposure to such diverting 

 temptation as had her first, he gives her such care that she not 

 only is unable to leave did she wish, but no other bull can seize 

 upon her. This is only one instance of the many different trials 

 and tribulations which both parties on the rookery subject 

 themselves to before the harems are filled. Far back, fifteen or 

 twenty stations deep from the water-line sometimes, but gen- 

 erally not more on an average than ten or fifteen, the cows 

 crowd in at the close of the season for arriving, July 10 to 14, 

 and then they are able to go about pretty much as they please, 

 for the bulls have become greatly enfeebled by this constant 

 fighting and excitement during the past two. months, and are 

 quite content with even only one or two partners. 



" The cows seem to haul in compact bodies from the water up 

 to the rear of the rookeries, never scattering about over the 

 ground ; and they will not lie quiet in any position outside of 

 the great mass of their kind. This is due to their intensely 

 gregarious nature, and for the sake of protection. They also 

 select land with si)ecial reference to the drainage, having a 



