THE KOOKERIES OF ST. GEORGE. 41 



liillslope toward the east. The surface of this little rookery is lugj^cd and broken in 

 the extreme, making- it an ideal breeding ground. At its eastern end is tiie single 

 liauliug ground, reached through the open space that lies between this and the 

 narrow breeding ground which occupies the reef beyond. 



lo. Zapailiii liii-f. — Tliis rookery lies on a reef of bowlders similar to that occupied 

 by Lagoon rookery. The harems are grouped iu scattered patclies along the narrow, 

 rocky beach. At the end of the reef is a large hauling ground which is also more or 

 less common to the younger baclielors from the three Zapadni rookeries. Here the 

 sand beach of Knglish Bay l)egins, which sti'etches around to Tolstoi rookery. 



These three breeding grounds were originally one, but the decrease of the herd 

 has so separated them as to make it advisable to give them distinct names. Tlieir 

 combined herd is next in size to that of Ueef Peninsuhi, having about 00,000 seals of 

 all classes. 



At a considerable distance above Zapadni headland is an isolated hauling ground 

 for the older bachelors and half bulls, known as Southwest Point. A few still haul 

 out there, and a hair-seal rookery is situated on an islet oflshore. TJie place probably 

 never contaiued a breeding rookery. 



16. Maruniclien (personal name). — This is an abandoned rookery ground on North 

 Shore. It was never an important rookery, and has long been deserted. The oldest 

 inhabitant of the village of St. Paul simply remembers hearing it spoken of when be 

 was a boy. No cau.se was assigned for its abandonment. A lierd of hair seals haul 

 out in the neighborhood of this old rookery. 



THE ST. GEORGE ROOKERIES. 



The rookeries of St. George are live in number. They are smaller and less 

 important than those of St. Paul, containing only about (me-sixth of the total number 

 of seals on the two islands. On account of the rugged character of the coast line of 

 St. George its rookery space is limited and the conditions less varied. The harems lie 

 chiefly along broken cliffs, on basaltic columns, and bowlder-strewn slopes. Four of 

 the rookeries are grouped on the northern face of the island, while the litth lies 

 isolated on the soutli western corner. IJeginning witli this last rookery, the following 

 is a brief account of the breeding grounds of St. George Island: 



1. Zapadni (n-csterhj). — This rookery lies along the rocky beach of Zaiiadni Bay, 

 ascending the slope of the long hill where the harems are located on flat benches of 

 rock. A part of the beach line lies at the foot of the clitt' formed by the breaking off 

 of tlie hill. In the rear of the lower or beach portion is the hauling ground of the 

 rookery, reached by two breaks in the mass of breeding seals and extending inland 

 some distance. 



2. Staraya Artel {old (juild). — This is a very picturesque rookery, lying in a narrow 

 belt along the steep slope of a hill which breaks off in an abrupt cliff on the seaward 

 side. The beach at the foot of the rookery is a limited one, and the lower harems are 

 situated on shelf like, rocky iwqjections which gradually shade into the even surface of 

 the hill slope, ou which the harems are closely massed. The hauling ground of tlie 

 rookery lies in tlie hollow formed by the inward sweep of the hill. In the hollow is a 

 small i>ond, once a lagoon, which the reef like beach has cut off. Over this beach the 

 bachelors haul out and lie on the bank of the pond. 



