AMPHIBIAN MILLIONS. 261 



long each, back six inches from these skinny toe-ends, without any 

 sign of nails to mention on the outer big and little toes. 



On the upper side of this hind-foot the body-hair comes down 

 to that point where the metatarsus and phalangeal bones join and 

 fade out. From that junction the phalanges, about six inches down 

 to the nails above mentioned, are entirely bare and stand ribbed up 

 in bold relief on the membrane which unites them, as the web to a 

 duck's foot. The nails just referred to mark the ends of the pha- 

 langeal bones and their union in turn with the cartilaginous pro- 

 cesses, which run rapidly tapering and flattening out to the ends of 

 the thin toe-points. Now, as we are looking at this fur-seal's mo- 

 tion and progression, that which seems most odd is the gingerly 

 manner (if I may be allowed to use the expression) in which it car- 

 ries these hind flippers. They are held out at right angles from 

 the body directly opposite the pelvis, the toe-ends or flaps slightly 

 waving, curled, and drooping over, supported daintily, as it were, 

 above the earth, the animal only suffering its weight behind to fall 

 ui^on its heels, which are themselves opposed to each other, scarcely 

 five inches apart. 



We shall, as we see this seal again later in the season, have to 

 notice a different mode of progression and bearing, both when it is 

 lording over its harem or when it grows shy and restless at the end 

 of the breeding season, then faint, emaciated, and dejected. But 

 we will now j^roceed to observe him in the order of his arrival and 

 that of his family. His behavior during the long period of fasting 

 and unceasing activity and vigilance, and other cares which devolve 

 upon him as the most emi}ient of all polygamists in the brute world, 

 I shall carefully relate, and to fully comprehend the method of this 

 exceedingly interesting animal it will be frequently necessary for 

 the reader to refer to my sketch-maps of its breeding grounds or 

 rookeries, and the islands. 



The adult males are the first examples of the Callorhinua to ar- 

 rive in the spring on the seal-ground, which has been deserted by 

 all of them since the close of the preceding year. * 



* The distances at sea. away from the Pribylov Islands, in whicli fur-seals 

 are found during the breeding season, are very considerable. Scattered rec- 

 ords have been made of seeing large bands of them during August as far down 

 the northwest coast as they probably range at any season of the year, viz. , well 

 out at sea in the latitude of Cape Flattery, 47" to 49 south latitude. In the 

 winter and spring, up to middle of June, all classes are found-here spread out 



