The Days of a Man 



1896 



The old 



fellows 



leave 



The little 

 Blue Fox 



which predicated a mother. Up to August this was 

 impossible on account of the ferocity of the bulls. 

 At that time, however, the young began to learn to 

 swim, and harem discipline was rapidly relaxed. 

 For the old beachmasters, having grown very 

 hungry, very sleepy, and relatively gentle after two 

 months of fasting and standing guard, then swam 

 off to sea for food. Meanwhile the eager Polu- 

 sikatchi, who had watched from the rocks above, 

 crowded down to take the vacant places, tumbling 

 hastily into the sea at the roar of a returning despot. 



At this juncture, before the pups were able to 

 scatter to any distance, we counted them with fair 

 accuracy in spite of heavy handicaps. Occasionally 

 it was even necessary to drive the mothers into the 

 sea in order to get sight of all the young ones. Con- 

 trary to some preconceived notions, the females 

 soon returned, showing no evidence of fright. 



The number of young, and therefore of breeding 

 females, we estimated at 143,071. The count next 

 year, more accurate because of our larger experience, 

 fixed the current total at 129,216. 



Besides the Fur Seal, several other interesting ani- 

 mals frequent the Pribilofs. Commonest among 

 these is the diminutive Blue Fox Alopex pribilo- 

 fensis. The long, thick fur of this little beast is 

 normally gray-blue or dove color throughout the 

 year, although about one third of the whole number 

 of individuals are white at all times the basis 

 of the hairs, however, being always blue. This 

 creature is thus a curious anomaly, most subarctic 

 forms ermines, hares, ptarmigan, owls, and bunt- 

 ings being white only in winter. 



C 5643 



