THE TOLSTOI DEATH IRAl". 583 



The piijjs here, ;i.s elsewhere, seem infested with ("ncinurid, ami many have dieil 

 of the parasite. 



On the way home a count of the dead pups on Za])Hdiii Keef was made, and 70 

 found. .V dead cow was found on the sands of Knglish Bay. Her death was piribably 

 the result of rough treatment by a bull. The bones of the pelvis were broken. 



DEAD PUPS ON TOLSTOI. 



The animals were cleared off the sands of Tolstoi, and a count of the dead pups 

 made by Macouu and myself, finding 503 dCiid pups; tliere were 5 dead cows found. 

 Of the pups, 0() were washed up on the sands at the foot of the bay, where 2:31 were 

 found last year. This season there has been no surf until within the past three days. 

 For the sand flat and the beach below, last year 1,49.") pups were found. The decrease 

 seems not to be due to any changed conditions in the flat itself, but in the sparse 

 occupation of it. Only a narrow strij) was this season occupied by the seals, and 

 this grouud was quite as thickly covered as it was last year. More than three-fourtlis 

 of the western part of the flat was bare, uot only of living seals, but of dead ones 

 also. The line bordering on the eastern side had slirunk back. The rocks of the 

 beach were full of dead pups. This space was closely tilled with harems. 



The pups seem for the most part to have died from the attacks of Uncinaria. The 

 infection is doubtless taken ft-om the sands. The bulls on the sand flat are unusually 

 fierce. Many of thetn are young, and some are of the idle-bull class. Many cows 

 were held singly by bulls. The cows were approaching heat and could not be moved, 

 and the bulls fought valiantly for them. One case of copulation occurred. The pups 

 are not yet able to swim well, and do not take to the water readily. 



The rocky slope behind the sand flat is full of pups and cows which liave drawn 

 back within the past few days. In a week or so the sand flat will be deserted for the 

 slope. 



AUGUST 8. 



Dr. Jordan and 1 went to Lukanin rookery to look for branded 2-yearolds. The 

 hauling ground had a large drove of bachelors. Most seemed to be 2yearolds, with 

 many yearlings. No branded animals were among them. The rookery was then 

 passed over with a view to determining whether any were on the water front, but none 

 were found, either on Lukanin or Kitovi. Dr. Jordan found a 3 year bachelor 

 apparently choking to death. He poked a cane down the animal's throat, which 

 appeared to give it immediate relief, for it walked oft'. 



In the afternoon H. M. S. Phcdsant came in and Mr. ]\Iacouu went on board for a 

 cruise among the pelagic sealers. Later on the company's steamer Bel Xorte arrived 

 from St. George. The leucing and branding apparatus were found to be deep down 

 in the hold, and it will be a day or two before they can be got out. 



AUGUST 9. 

 DEAD PUPS ON REEF. 



A count of dead pups ou Eeef and Gorbatch rookeries was made this morning by 

 Dr. Jordan. Dr. Wood, anil myself. Professor Thompson spent a short time on the 

 Reef, but took no i)art in the count. 



