THE PROPORTION OK THE SEXES AMONG PUPS. 423 



It is evident tbat the couutiiig of live pups is not pi actieable on the wide rookeries 

 unless tliey ean be driven out to a level place, and this is not possible, except at 

 considerable risk to the pups. 



In two instances we were repeatedly driveu off by female seals who seemed to 

 bave imjis in pods which they were bound to defend. The.se mother seals could not 

 be dri\eii, and returned to the attack when hauled a considerable distance down the 

 slope. Cows with newly born pups have been noted thus brave, but never those with 

 older pups. No bull could have made more trouble than these cows did. 



PROPORTION OF THE .SEXES. 



With a view of determining the proportion of the sexes, a number of pups on 

 (iorbatch rookery were examined. In the tirst lot of 136 pups, 70 were found to be 

 females and (!6 males. In the next lot of 79, 40 were found, to be males, 39 females. 

 In the next pod of 126, 80 were males and 46 females. Another lot of 63. 36 were 

 males and l.'7 females. Another contained 21 males and 30 females. Thus out of a 

 total of 458 pups, 246 were males and 212 females. The discrepancy arise? in one 

 pod of pups found in a cave, the great majority of which for some reason were males. 



In examining these pups the (juestion of the color of belly was kept in mind. It 

 was found that both males and females had brown bellies, and vice versa. Nor did 

 the brownness seem to have anything to do with size, the largest as well as the 

 smallest i)ups having light bellies. 



At least 20 starving pups were seen on Gorbatch- to day in the small part of the 

 rookery counted. Three of these pups were all but dead, wholly unable to move or 

 get about. They were unconscious, and only a fitful Jerky breathing told that life 

 still lingered in them. Two others were dead, but still warm, and manifestly starved 

 to death. 



The pups examined as to sex were for the most part taken out from the little 

 groups huddled in the crevices of the rocks. Where they were piled ui) still after 

 half an hour the undermost ones were in a heated condition, as indicated by their 

 flippers when handled. It would not do to try and count the living pups on these 

 rocky rookeries. 



ARDIGUEX. 



At 4 o'clock the slide of Ardiguen was visited. The i»lace seemed practically 

 deserted. Only one bull is at the head of the slide, probably E. There are no bulls 

 at all on the main part. Six young bulls maintain ]iosition on the water's edge and 

 are teasing 2 year-olds and passing cows. Apparently most of the cows are at sea. 

 The i>ups are down on the rocks at the edge or in the water. 



I'ups are imitative little creatures. One slides down the incline of a smooth 

 stone, lighting on his nose. Another came down and did exactly the same thing, 

 following his example. 



Two freshly dead starved pups are seen on the slide. A number of living pups 

 show the effects of starvation. 



Interesting to note the peculiar i)osition in which the animals lie. A cow is lying 

 on a rather steeply inclined rock with her head toward the top, her pup lying beside 

 her in exactly the same position. Two cows are lying on flat stones with their heads 

 hanging down over the side: apparently have no fear of a rush of blood to the head. 



