242 CARNIVORA PINNIPEDIA. 



The difference in the dimensions of the sexes is greater 

 in the Northern Sea Bears than in any other species of 

 Eared Seals. The old bulls weigh from 700 to 800 pounds, 

 and measure from seven to eight feet ; while the full-grown 

 cow only weighs from 80 to 100 pounds, and measures 

 about four feet in length, and two and a half feet in girth. 

 The finest fur is obtained from the skins of the three- 

 year-old Bachelor Seals, w r hich weigh about 100 pounds, 

 and measure from four to five feet in length, and a little 

 over two and a half feet in girth. As the animals grow 

 older the fur becomes longer and loses in density until 

 in the old bulls it is so long and thin that they are some- 

 times called wigs. 



All the Northern Sea Bears have a short face, with 

 a sharp profile ; but the other species have a slenderer head 

 than those frequenting the Pribilov Islands; this is espe- 

 cially true of the Copper Island Seals. 



The cows of this group have but one note, a hollow 

 prolonged, bla-a-ting call; but the males utter four dis- 

 tinct notes a loud, long, hoarse roar, a low gurgling growl 

 or chuckle, a sibilant piping whistle and a kind of spitting 

 sound. Mr. Elliott says: "The sound arising from the 

 great breeding grounds of the Fur Seals, where thousands 

 upon thousands of angry bulls are roaring, chuckling, 

 piping; and multitudes of mother Seals are calling in 

 blaating tones to their young, who in turn respond in- 

 cessantly is simply indescribable, and under favorable 

 conditions can be heard five or six miles away ; often warn- 

 ing vessels that are approaching the islands in thick, foggy 

 weather, of the positive, though unseen proximity of land. 

 Night and day, throughout the season, the din of the 

 rookeries is steady and constant." 



Both Sexes of these animals have a marked indiffer- 

 ence for their offspring, cases being on record where a 

 cub has been killed before the eyes of its mother without 

 causing the parent to show the least concern. 



The hauling grounds of the bachelors are always on 

 the beaches, but the rookeries of the bulls are on the rock- 

 covered slopes back from the shore. 



All Northern Sea Bears are impatient of heat. A 

 temperature of 45 is unpleasant to- them, and when the 

 mercurv in the thermometer rises to 55 or higher they 



