566 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIEILOF ISLANDS. 



tbe harem buUs were in and about the gully of Zapadni there would be jn-aetically 

 no fighting. If the flat surfaces were broken up or tilled with stones, this breeding 

 area would Ijeconie as safe as that of Kitovi, for example. 



On the edge of the second gully is a branded cow, in all probability the second 

 of the 2 branded last year on Lukanin. She is alone in charge of a bull. All along 

 the rear of Zapadni are these small harems of 1 and 2 cows, plainly the advance 

 guard of 2year old cows. They have no pups and are restless. 



There is nothing iu the condition of the harems to warrant the supposition that 

 the 3-year-old cows are the cause of the "height of the season" on the rookeries. It 

 is evident also that the 2year-olds are already present iu considerable numbers. 

 It seems more likely that the advent of these classes of seals is dependent upon their 

 ages, the earlier coming in heat earlier as 2-year olds, and bearing their pups earlier 

 as .'^-year-olds. In like manner the later-born pups come in heat and bear later in 

 the season. 



While coming along the sands of English Bay this morning we found a starving 

 pup traveling toward the end of Zapadni Ileef. It was fully half a mile from this 

 rookery and more than that distance from Tolstoi, to one or the other of which 

 rookeries it must have belonged. This instinct for wandering is plainly the cause of 

 instances of starvation, or else starvation is the cause of the wandering. A similar 

 instance of wandering has already been noted on the Keef. 



Mr. Adams reports but few cows on the Amphitheater and in the typical harems. 

 The rain is probably the cause. But few cows were seen to laud and many took to 

 water. Two bulls in the Amphitheater are without (!Ows but are surrounded with 

 pups. In a little ravine which has had 3 harems are today only 2. Thirteen cows 

 were seen to take to the water in a body. Many seals are in the water oflshore: more 

 than has been noticed at any time this season prior to this time. So far there has 

 been a noticeable absence of swimming seals along the rookery fronts. 



A count of harems on Lukanin was made to day. There were l-'?'.l. This is the 

 date on which 147 were counted last season. On the 15th this rookery contained 

 128 harems, showing an increase in families, though the population of cows has 

 diminished considerably. 



JULY 21. 



I went to Northeast Point with Mr. Lucas and Mr. Adams to make a count of the 

 harems after the drive. On account of the rain, however, no drive was made, and 

 the count had to be postponed. ^Ir. Lucas and Mr. Adams returned to the village. 



.Mr. Adams reports an increase of cows to-day on the Amphitheater, there being 

 in all 528 as against 429 yesterday. The rain was plainly the cause of their absence 

 yesterdaj'. In the typical harems under Lukanin cliff 215 were present to-day; 

 114 yesterday. 



JULY 22. 



NOETHEAST POINT. 



The drive of last night brought in a large number of seals, and killing was begun 

 at 5 o'clock. This season, instead of making separate drives on succeeding days from 



