CLOSE UF THK BKEEUING SEASON. 67 



The yearling females doubtless come to the islauds in company with the 2-year 

 olds, but do not put in au appearance on the rookeries much before September, at the 

 time wheu the pups of the year are able to swim well and begin to make their first 

 excursions about the islands. For the rest of the season these young seals speud their 

 time playing among the pups and ranging like privileged characters over the rookeries. 



That they do not, as has been supposed, fi'equent the hauling grounds with the 

 males is doubtless due to the fact that these would annoy them, for the instinct of 

 rounding up a harem and lording it over others is early developed iu the youug 

 male. A young yearling iiuile may fre(iucMtly be seen rounding up a pod of sleeping 

 or resting pups with all the gusto of au adult. The pups themselves not iufreciueutly 

 attempt the same thing with their fellows. 



THE BREAKING UP OF THE BREEDING REASON. 



As has already been said, about the 2atli of July the old harem bulls, that have 

 fasted since the first of May, begin to leave and seek the feeding grounds. As they 

 withdraw, their places are taken by the idle bulls. This class of males does not locate 

 definitely on the breeding grounds much before the arrival of the cows. They have, 

 therefore, fasted a shorter period and are able to remain out the season. 



By the 5th to the 10th of August all the able-bodied adult bulls have gone, and 

 the younger bulls, together with the bachelors, flock over the breeding grounds. 

 The bachelors have, during the breeding season, been strictly excluded from the rook- 

 eries, but with the departure of the bulls they take advantage of their new freedom, 

 and mingling with the cows and pups, they round up mimic harems and make them- 

 selves generally at home. In a few weeks, however, the novelty of the situation 

 wears ofi', and the bachelors return to their favorite lounging places on the sand 

 beaches. 



THE CONDITION OF THE BULLS. 



Much has been said of the wasted and broken condition of the harem masters as 

 they leave the islands after their long fast. It is true that they become reduced iu 

 condition from their earlier state, but they are by no means so reduced or broken in 

 spirit as they are reported. During the season of 1897, in counting the pups on the 

 several rookeries it was necessary to enter them late iu July or early in August and 

 turn off the adults into the water. These so-called weak and emaciated bulls were 

 found not only able but vrilliug to fight us or one another to the last. In many cases 

 they could not be moved at all any more than in the height of the season. This was at 

 a time when these animals must many of them have been without food or water for at 

 least two months. Our experience taught us that so long as an adult bull is on the 

 breeding ground there is fight and courage enough iu him to make him master of the 

 situation; it is when the breeding season is over and he has removed to the sand 

 beaches that he becomes tame and tractable. 



The harem bulls on their first departure seek the feeding grounds and by the first 

 of September return, some of them to their former places on the rookeries, where they 

 plainly show their rejuvenation by their renewed combativeness, and also by their 

 efforts to round up and monopolize such cows as still remain about. Most of them, 

 however, haul out on the great beaches along Xorth Shore, English Bay. and Lukanin, 

 to sleep during the rest of the season, going to and coming from the feeding grounds 

 as they feel like it. 



