THE ALEUTIAN SEALS. 433 



teaches it in the most practical manner the value of 

 independence. 



An interesting account of the habits of the fur seals, 

 which migrate every spring to the Aleutian Islands, has 

 been given by Sir George Simpson. 



Each old male, he says, brings to this summer-station a 

 herd of females under his protection, the herd varying in 

 number according to his size and strength j the " weaker 

 brethren " being obliged to content themselves with 

 half-a-dozen wives, while some of the sturdier and 

 fiercer fellows preside over harems that are two hun- 

 dred strong. 



From the time when they arrive in May to that of 

 their departure in October, the whole of them are princi- 

 pally to be found on the beach. The females go down to 

 the sea once or twice a day ; while the male, morning, 

 noon, and night, guards his charge with the most jealous 

 vigilance, postponing even the pleasures of eating, drink- 

 ing, and sleeping to the duty of keeping together his 

 numerous favourites. And should any impertinent young 

 seal venture by stealtji to approach a senior chiefs "bevy 

 of beauty," he is generally torn in pieces by the jealous 

 sultan, and atones for his imprudence with his life ; while 

 should any of the " fair ones" have given the rash intruder 

 encouragement, they are not suffered to escape without 

 appropriate punishment. 



The Common or Vituline Seal (Phoca vitulina) is the 

 species generally pursued by the hunters in the Arctic 

 regions. It measures from four to five feet in length, 

 and is of a yellowish-gray colour, covered with irregular 

 spots of black or blackish brown. Its form is cylindri- 



