COURTSHIP IN ANIMALS AND MAN 193 



younger bulls attempt, but fail, to get a place on the 



rocks. The bull holding the most advantageous place 



the nearest to the landing-place — starts the collecting of 

 cows. Having seized the first arrival, he places her by 

 his side. As the later females arrive he proceeds in the 

 same way. He soon has " herded " more cows than he 

 can control. He cannot be in two places at once, and 

 in scuttling off to chastise some covetous neighbour who 

 is eloping with one of his wives, one or more bulls on the 

 opposite side of his harem proceed to make captures 

 from his horde. This sort of thing goes on till all the 

 cows have been appropriated, according to the herding 

 and holding capacities of the bulls, leaving a crowd of 

 envious bachelors in the background not strong enough 

 or courageous enough to fight. Each bull is master of 

 the situation, whether his harem consists of five cows or 

 fifty. If a cow is restless he growls at her. If she tries 

 to escape he fiercely bites her, and if she tries to outrun 

 him he seizes her by the skin of the neck and tosses her 

 back, often torn and bleeding, into the family circle. 

 Sometimes a cow is killed by the struggle of two bulls 

 to pull her in opposite directions, and in this way the 

 more querulous and discontented cows are eliminated in 

 each generation, and the peculiarly gentle and passive 

 nature characteristic of the cow seals has been developed. 

 For three long months the bull seal has to keep watch 

 and ward fasting. This is a most exceptional strain and 

 effort, for in other animals fasting is associated with 

 absolute rest and sleep. The bull fur-seal arrives at the 

 breeding ground fat and in fine condition ; he leaves it, 

 though triumphant, a starved and battered wreck. 



The more agreeable arts of courtship are exhibited 

 by birds in greatest variety and in more familiar 

 examples than in any other animals. The use of odours 

 13 



