146 ALASKA. 



These bachelor-seals are, I am sure, v.ithout exceptiou, the 

 most restless animals in the whole brute creation ; they frolic 

 and lope about over the grounds for hours, without a moment's 

 cessation, and their sleep alter this is short, and is accomi^anied 

 with nervous twitchings and uneasy movements j they seem to 

 be fairly brimful and overrunning with warm life. I have 

 never observed anything like ill-humor grow out of their play- 

 ing together ; invariably well pleased one Mith another in all 

 their frolicsome struggles. 



The pups and yearlings have an es])ecial fondness for sport- 

 ing on the rocks which are just at the water's level, so as to be 

 alternately covered and uncovered by the sea-rollers. On the 

 bare sumnjit of these water-worn spots they struggle and 

 €-lamber. a dozen or two at a time, occasionally, for a single 

 rock; the strongest or luckiest one pushing the others all oft, 

 which, however, simply redouble their efforts and try to dis- 

 lodge him, who thus has, for a few moments only, the advan- 

 tage; for Avith the next roller and the other pressure, he gen- 

 erally is ousted, and the game is repeated. Sometimes, as well 

 as 1 could see, the same squad of " hoUuschukie" placed 

 around a rock thus situated, off " ^ah Speel" rooker^', during 

 the whole of one day; but, of course, they cannot be told apart. 



The "holluschukie," too, are the champion swimmers; at 

 least they do about all the fancj' tumbling and turning that is 

 done by the fur-seals when in the water around the islands. 

 The grave old bulls and their matronly companions seldom 

 indulge in any extravagant display, such as jumping out of the 

 water like so many dolphins, describing, as these youngsters 

 do, beautiful elliptic curves, rising three and even four feet 

 from the sea, with the back slightly arched, the fore flippers 

 folded back against the sides, and the hinder ones extended and 

 pressed together straight out behind, plumping in head first, 

 reappearing in the same manner after an interval of a few 

 seconds. 



All classes will invariably make these dolphin-jumps when 

 they are suddenly surprised or are driven into the water, turn- 

 ing their heads, while sailing in the air, between the "rises" 

 and " plumps," to take a look at the cause of their disturbance. 

 They all swim with great rapidity, and may be fairly said to 

 <lart with the velocity of a bird on the wing along under the 

 water; and in all their swimming I have not been able yet to 

 satisfy myself how they use their long, flexible, hind feet, other 



