AMPHIBIAN MILLIONS. 269 



served, peculiar to fur-seals alone, the bulls in particular. It is 

 the usual prelude to all their combats, and it is their signal of as- 

 tonishment. It follows somewhat in this way: when the two dis- 

 putants are nearly within reaching or striking distance, they make 

 a number of feints or false passes, as fencing-masters do, at one an- 

 other, with the mouth wide open, lifting the lips or snarling so as 

 to exhibit their glistening teeth ; with each pass of the head and 

 neck they expel the air so violently through the larynx as to cause 

 a rapid choo-choo-choo sound, like steam-j^uffs as they escape from 

 the smoke-stack of a locomotive when it starts a heavy train, espe- 

 cially while the driving-wheels slip on the rail. 



All of the bulls have the jiower and frequent inclination to utter 

 four distinct calls or notes. This is not the case with the sea-lion, 

 whose voice is confined to a single bass roar, or that of the walrus, 

 which is limited to a dull grunt, or that of the hair-seal, which is al- 

 most inaudible. This volubility of the adult male is decidedly charac- 

 teristic and prominent. He utters a hoarse, resonant roar, loud and 

 long ; he gives vent to a low, entirely different gurgling growl ; he 

 emits a chuckling, sibilant, jjiping whistle, of which it is impossi- 

 ble to convey an adequate idea, for it must be heard to be i;nder- 

 stood, and this spitting or dioo sound just mentioned. The cow* 

 has but one note — a hollow, prolonged, bla-a-ting call, addressed 

 only to her pup : on all other occasions she is usually silent ; it 

 is something strangely like the cry of a calf or an old sheep. 

 She also makes a spitting sound or snort when suddenly disturbed 

 — a kind of cough, as it were. The pups "blaat" also, with little 

 or no variation, their sound being somewhat weaker and hoarser 



* Without explanation I may be considered as making use of paradoxical 

 language by using these terms of description, since the inconsistency of talking 

 of "pups," with "cows," and "bulls," and "rookeries," on the breeding 

 grounds of the same, cannot fail to be noticed ; but this nomenclature has 

 been given and used by the American and English whaling and sealing parties 

 for many years, and the characteristic features of the seals themselves so suit 

 the naming that I have felt satisfied to retain the style throughout as render- 

 ing my description more intelligible, especially so to those who are engaged in 

 the business or may be hereafter. The Russians are more consistent, but not 

 so "pat." They call the bull "see-catch," a term implying strength, vigor, 

 etc.; the cow, " matkah," or mother ; the pups, "kotickie," or little seals ; 

 the non-breeding males under six and seven years, "hoUuschickie," or bache- 

 lors. The name applied collectively to the fur-seal by them is " morskie-kot," 

 or sea-cat. 



