Mr. R. Hamilton on the Fur Seal of Commerce. 87 



To this detailed account of the specimens we must add an 

 important character which is supplied by Captain Weddell. 

 " Nothing/^ he remarks, " regarding the fur seal is more asto- 

 nishing than the disproportion in the size of the male and fe- 

 male. A large grown male from the tip of the nose to the ex- 

 tremity of the tail is 6 feet 9 inches, while the female is not 

 more than 3^ feet. This class of the males however is not the 

 most numerous, but being physically the most powerful, they 

 keep in their possession all the females, to the exclusion of the 

 younger branches ; hence at the time of parturition the males 

 attending the females may be computed to be as one to twenty, 

 which shows this to be perhaps the most polygamous of large 

 animals." 



Habits. — The few particulars which are casually noted by 

 this original observer, are so strongly illustrative of the pecu- 

 liar habits of this seal, and of many others, that it would be 

 improper here to omit them. " These fur seals," he states, 

 " are in their nature completely gregarious ; but they flock to- 

 gether and assemble on the coast at different periods, and in 

 distinct classes. The males of the largest size go on shore 

 about the middle of November, to wait the arrival of the fe- 

 males, who of necessity must soon follow, for the purpose of 

 bringing forth their young. These in the early part of De- 

 cember begin to land, and they are no sooner out of the water 

 than they are taken possession of by the males, who have many 

 serious battles with each other in procuring their respective 

 seraglios ; and by a peculiar instinct they carefully protect the 

 females under their charge during the whole period of gesta- 

 tion. By the end of December all the female seals have ac- 

 complished the purpose of their landing. The time of gesta- 

 tion may be considered nearly twelve months, and they seldom 

 have more than one at a time, which they suckle and rear ap- 

 parently with great affection. By the middle of February, the 

 young are able to take the water, and after being taught to 

 swim by the mother, they are abandoned on the shore, where 

 they remain till their coats of fur and hair are completed. 

 During the latter end of February, what are called the dog 

 seals go ashore ; these are the young seals of the two prece- 

 ding years, and such males as, from their want of age and 



