THE MIGRATIONS OF THE FUR SEALS. 47 



the fourth year bis neck begins to tliiclien and develop the "wig." After the wig lias 

 appeared the skin depreciates in value, until in the adult bull it has no value as fur. 



THE HALF BILL. 



In the fifth and sixth years the young male grows rapidly, and in size and 

 appearance approximates the adult bull, but lacks his strength and courage. He 

 is then known as a "half bull." The males under 7 years of age are not allowed on 

 the rookeries, though they hang about the rear and in the water in front of them. 

 The bachelors are forced to herd by themselves in separate bauds on the hauling 

 grounds. 



THE IDLE BULL. 



In addition to the half bulls there is a class of males called "idle" or "reserve" 

 bulls. These are in no way different from the breeding bulls, but on account 

 of the lateness of their arrival, the unfavorableness of their location, or because of 

 defeat in battle, they have been unsuccessful in securing harems. They take up their 

 places in the rear of the breeding grounds, or as near to them as they can get, and 

 there they fight among themselves, watching for opportunities to invade the harems of 

 their more successful rivals, and occasionally forming small harems by capture. Late 

 in the season the idle bulls succeed to the posts vacated by the departing harem 

 masters and take charge of the late arriving cows and the li-year olds. 



THE VEAKLINGS AND VIRGINS. 



The seals of 1 year old of both sexes are known as yearlings. There is no marked 

 ditference between the males and females at this age. The yearling males are found 

 in the latter part of July on the hauling grounds with the older bachelors. The 

 females come late to the islands and spend much of their time on the rookeries among 

 the young of the year. They do not associate to any considerable <legree with their 

 brothers on the hauling grounds. The females of 2 years old are known as '• virgins," 

 and come on the rookeries late in July and early in August to be served by the bulls. 



THE pri». 



The young of the fur seal or pup is black in color at birth, sometimes with a 

 brownish strip under the throat and with a large whitish. spot in the axil. Its weight 

 at birth is about 11 pounds, and it is comparatively helpless, though it becomes able 

 to care for itself in a short time. Its head is large in proportion to its body and 

 proves a serious handicap in the early etforts of the animal to learn to swim, an art 

 which it does not possess at birth. When the pup is about 3 months old it sheds its 

 black coat and takes on a new one of gray. By this time it has learned to swim well 

 and weighs 25 or 30 pounds. 



THE MIGRATION OF THE SEALS. 

 THEIR StniMER MOVEMENTS. 



In their annual movements the seals of all classes with few. if any. exceptions visit 

 each season the islands on which their breeding grounds are situated. The earliest 

 arrivals come about the 1st of May; the latest to depart go some tune in December. 



