314 THE FUE SEALS OF THE PKIlilLOF ISLANDS. 



The ouly " mussed " portion of Gorbatcli is along tbe edge of the ciuder slope. 

 There are several large groups that extend wedge shaped up the slope. Towusend's 

 map is very elosc to present facts on Uorbatch. 



REEF PARADE UKOUND. 



Above the cinder slope of Gorbatcli is a level plateau known as the "parade 

 ground,'' which gradually sloi)es toward the eastern shore of Reef peninsula and 

 extends back to the liauling ground of lleef rookery. The highest part of this 

 plateau is bare, but toward the eastward it is covered with a thick growth of grass. 

 In earlier years it was kept entirely bare by the herds of wandering bachelors. To-day 

 it is deserted. 



In order to settle the question of how long it would take territory of this kiiul to 

 become grass-grown, a space which was bare in 1S!)2 was marked off with stone 

 cairns by Messrs. Stauley-Browu, Townsend, and Macoun. The space so set off is now 

 covered with seal grass (Glycern aiKjHstatd)^ like the regions about it. Saxifrage, 

 artemesia, and segiua are also growing in it. 



AKDIGUEN. 



At 3.30 a. m., while on the way to the drive, tbe typical harems on Ardiguen were 

 visited. Two instances of copulation were seen at this time. The animals were as 

 active as in the daytime. Of tlie pod of 38 pups 2G still i-emained. The harems Lad 

 the same number as in the afternoon. 



In the afternoon a second visit was made. Two half bulls were on the rocks above 

 harem A. Harem B lay on a space about 3(1 by 30 feet. This would give 45 square 

 feet each, no account being taken of space about them. They could all be crowded 

 into 480 square feet, if all were as closely packed as some are. This would give an 

 area of 130 square feet each, or with pups, 10 square feet. This, however, would not 

 occur naturally, and 23 sipiare feet may be taken as a maximum in close masses, as 

 True has estimated. 



If B covers 3(i by 30, A to (1 cover 108 by 72, or 58 scpiare feet for each cow ; with 

 bulls and pups, 24 square feet each. This is above the average for rookeries under the 

 cliffs, as 23 is a maximum in massed rookeries. True's estimate is not very far from 

 correct, if rookeries could be measured. 



UKANIN ROOKERY. 



On Lukanin was seen a little cow, apparently a 2 year-old, slender, young looking, 

 silvery gray in color, with features of a yearling. 81ie was in a harem alone with a 

 young bull well up from the shore and near no others. There was no pup. She may 

 be a virgin. According to ^fr. Townsend, Mr. Stauleylbown, and others, the silvery 

 gray ones are lately in from the water; the browu ones are those who have been in 

 long enough to become sunburned.' 



A little ])ui) was found walking away alone well above the harems, going slowly 

 but steadily, as if it knew its way. It went some 15 rods, and was still going when last 



' Further observation showed that the silvery cows were young. The newly arrived adult is more 

 olive-tinted than the sunburned cow, but is not silvery. 



