THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 251 



very early in March come from the north to the place 

 appointed for bringing forth and rearing the young brood. 

 They have apparently a wonderful instinct in doing this, 

 following each other in droves for days, all steering a 

 course to their chosen breeding-place. The young are 

 generally produced from March 16 to 22. They are beauti- 

 ful little creatures, with long, soft, yellow fur, which 

 Nature endows them with to keep them warm during their 

 short infancy, and so rapid is the growth of the young 

 that if the weather is good and they are left undisturbed 

 a marked difference in their size and condition can be 

 noticed day by day. By the middle of April the old ones 

 have left their young to take care of themselves. The 

 young ones at this time begin to cast the fur for the 

 beautiful smooth, spotted coat, which they retain until the 

 third year, when they become full-grown. 



The next in importance to the "saddle-back" is the 

 "bladder-nose," or "hooded seal," so called from having 

 a loose -bag hanging over the nose of the male. The 

 animal has the power of inflating this bladder-like appen- 

 dage at will, and it invariably does so when enraged. This* 

 seal is double the size of the "saddle-back," and, besides 

 being coal-black in colour, it is spotted very much akin 

 to the leopard. It is recorded that before the rifle came so 

 much into use trie old "bladder-nose" was held in deep 

 respect. Many a time a boat's crew have had to beat a 

 hasty retreat off the ice and into the boat after having had 

 their seal-clubs snatched from their grasp by this powerful 

 animal. One peculiarity about this species is that the 

 females are only about half the size of the males. They 

 are also more irregular in their bree'ding habits than the 

 "saddle-back," and, strange to say, the young ones cast 

 their fur before birth, and it is found lying beside the 

 young in round balls. They are always most numerous 

 near the "saddle-backs," but are seldom seen amongst 

 them. 



'The next is the "ground," or "bearded," seal, so named 

 from being always near the land, and from its magnificent 



