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NATURAL HISTORY. 



"ROOKERY" OF FUR SEALS. 



more inland to grassy hillocks ; the said areas are used as temporary resting-places, playgrounds, 

 and neutral territory, where young, old, and infirm or wounded may resort to undisturbed. To these 

 sandy beaches and uplands the term " Hauling-grounds " is given, from the manner in which the Seals 

 drag themselves out of the water in going towards them. 



From whatever reason, the adult males seem to leave the herd and betake themselves to the 

 Pribylofi' Islands in the spring months, when, in the first few days of May, they make their 

 appearance, and in a suspicious, doubtful manner swim idly about, apparently reluctant to land. 

 Soon, however, the older "bulls" approach the loose rocky shore, and commence to locate themselves. 

 Each individual animal takes possession of a piece of ground about ten feet square, and, as those fresh 

 from the sea approach, there begins a series of battles as to which is to retain the ground first occupied. 

 All during the month of May, and even to the first week of June, this terrible warfare proceeds 

 incessantly, and those next the water have to resist all comers, or themselves be forced farther back. 

 Meantime, from the beginning till almost towards the end of June, the pregnant females make 

 their appearance, first in small numbers, until the great body arrive in mass at the close of the month. 

 Each male retains his position as best he can, whilst some of the females hesitate to land, calling out 

 as if in search of some particular mate. The males coaxingly strive to inveigle them ashore, and no 

 sooner do the females approach than they are laid hold of, and a general warfare among the whole 

 "rookery" ensues. The quiet, unoffending, small-sized females are subjected to dreadful usage. 

 The strong and powerful males secure, where possible, from twelve to fifteen partners in their 

 seraglio, but to retain these is indeed a most serious business. Day and night the males, who 

 have never left their station for at least six weeks, have still to keep watch and ward over their 

 accommodating spouses, the only sense of meum and tuum being force. If the master of the 

 harem dare for a moment to doze, down comes his more wideawake neighbour from behind, to obtain 



