IX.] SYSTEM OF THE ROOKERY. 197 



their time in continual lighting. But witli all these peculiarities 

 they are essentially law-abiding mdividuals, as mvist be the case 

 in all large communities. The rookery, with the extent of its area 

 as sharply defined as that of a sheep pen, is portioned out upon a 

 certam plan which is rigidly adhered to, dependent mainly upon 

 the fact that the young males are not permitted to engage in the 

 responsibilities of matrimony until they have reached their sixth 

 year, although they are actually adult before that time. These 

 happy individuals, known by the natives as the JioUuschicki or 

 bachelors, are allotted a playground to themselves where, in 

 company with the pups of the other sex of one and two years old, 

 they sport unconscious of the parental cares and sanguinary battles 

 that another season or two will find them engaged in. These 

 playgrounds are either in rear or at the side of the rookery, the 

 remainder of which is allotted to the old bulls, their wives and 

 the newiy-born pups. Into this part even the boldest holluschack 

 dares not penetrate, for if he does so he probably pays the penalty 

 with his life.^ 



The old bulls, as already stated, are the earliest arrivals, and 

 immediately proceed to select a good position for the reception of 

 their future wives. They " peg out a claim" as it were, into which 

 none other intrudes save at his peril. To the defence of this little 

 space, which is perhaps not larger than a small room, the whole 

 energy of the animal is devoted. He neither rests nor eats, and 

 his whole time is occupied in savage encounters with other later 

 comers who endeavour to oust him from his post. It is only the 

 biggest and' strongest that can retain the coveted positions next the 

 sea, and even these, worn out in time by the severe wounds that 

 they have received, have occasionally to yield to younger and fresher 

 antagonists, and literally, as well as metaphorically, to take a back 

 seat. The seal even at this period then is scarcely to be held up 



^ For a great part of my information upon the subject of the seal rookeries I am 

 indebted to Mr. Oasche, an emploj'e of the Company, and to the elaborate "Mono- 

 gi-aph on the Seal Islands of Alaska " of Mr. H. W. Elliott. 



