12 



confusion. The Russian names, " sikatch" (grown ball), "polosikatch" (half bull 

 or wigged bachelor), "liolostiak" (bachelor not wigged), "matka" (mother), and 

 •'kotik" (pup), are in common use among the Aleuts on the Pribilof Islands, as well 

 as on the Commander Islands. Tliese words form their plural in i, thus: sikatchi, 

 holostiaki.* The Aleut names, "atagh" (bull), "ennatha" (ci»w), "lakutha" (th 

 as in the) (pup), are now used mainly by children. 



THE KUl! SEAL AND THE HAIIt SEAL. 



The use of the term "seal" in connection with the animals under discussion ia 

 somewhat misleading. The original name of "sea bear," given to it by its tirst dis- 

 coverer, Steller, is in every way preferable, as the fur seal is not a "seal," nor has it 

 any close athnity with the suborder of Pinni[)edia, to which the true or earless seals 

 belong. I?eyoud the lact that both fur seal and hair seal are carnivorous mammals, 

 feeding on tish and adapted for life in the water, the two types have little in common. 

 In structure, appearance, habits, dispositiou, method of locomotion, they are entirely 

 distinct and tiieir evolution as pelagic animals has been along separate lines. 



THE REMIPEDIA. 



The I'ur seals, with their associates, the walrus and sea lions, constituting the sub- 

 order L'cmipcdia (Jordan & Lucas), are obviously related to the hears. The hair 

 seals, whatever their origin, must have come along other lines from a different parent 

 stock, and their relation to land carnivora is more remote. Tiia Nemiprdia, among 

 other characters, have plantigrade feet, the anterior limbs modilitid as o.irs, and 

 with rudimentary claws, if any. The posterior limbs l)enil forward at the knee, and 

 the long, webbed toes extend beyond the cl.iws. Only the anterior limbs are used 

 in swimming. The head and neck can be elevated as in the l)ear, and the external 

 ear is moderately developed. The animal can run or lope along the ground as do 

 ordinary mammals and witli considerable rapidity. 



THE PINNIPEDIA. 



The various forms of true or hair seal, constituting the sul>order Pinulpedia, have 

 the feet not exactly plantigrade, short, with strong claws, only tlie posterior limbs 

 being used in swimming, and these not being susceptible of bending forward at the 

 knee. The animal therefore can not walk or lope at all, bo.t only wriggles while 

 on land. Its neck is short and it can scarcely raise its head. There are no external 

 ears. 



In the intei-nal structure the differences arc equally marked. In both species the 

 thick l)lubber under tlie skin goes with tlie life in cold water. The resemldances 

 associated with aciuatic habitat are only analogies and have no value in scientific 

 classification. 



Much misconception as to the nature and habits of the fur seal has arisen from its 

 supposed rcseml)lance to the animals called "seals" in the Atlantic; Init so long as 

 its fur has connnercial value the "sea liear" will doubtless produce "seal skins," 

 and even though killed on land only it will be the object of a "seal fishery." 



V. THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



The Pribilof group con.sists of two volcanic islands, both composed entirely of 

 lava and cinders, and known as St. Paul and St. George. Besides these there are two 

 smaller islands, known as Otter and Walrus islands, with the little islet of Sivutch or 

 Sea Lion Kock. These islands are in IJcring Sea. about 200 miles to the northwest of 

 Unalaska and about 45 miles apart, St. Paul lying to the northwest of St. George. 



ST. PAUL ISLANO. 



St. Paul, the more important island, is very irregular in form, the greatest length 

 being from northeast to southwest, about IH miles. Its greatest width is about 10 

 miles. The volcanic crater of Bogoslof, in the center of the island, rises to a height 

 of about 600 feet. Numerous other A'olcauic dikes and craters of various heights 

 occur on the island. 



ST. GEORGE ISLAND. 



St. George is about 11 miles long, east and west, by 7 north and south. It is more 

 elevated than St. Paul, its central peak, Aluckeyak, being 930 feet high. Its shore 

 outline is scarcely broken by bays or indentations, and most of its coast is formed by 

 "walls of basaltic rocks. 



*Not "holluschickie." 



