REPORT OF CAPT. BRYANT, 18G9. 277 



in small numbers at first, increasing as the season grows later, until 

 the middle of July, when the rookeries are full and many of the reser- 

 vations of the old males overcrowded with their respective families. 

 When the females first arrive many of them appear desirous of return- 

 ing to some particular male, and frequently climb the rocks overlook- 

 ing the rookeries and utter a peculiar cry as if endeavoring to attract 

 the attention of some acquaintance. Changing their place at intervals 

 this cry is often repeated until some bachelor perceives her and she is 

 driven to the rookeries and quickly appropriated. It seems to be the 

 sole duty of the bachelors at this season to compel the females to take 

 their places in the rookeries and often against their will. When the 

 female reaches the shore the nearest male meets and coaxes her with a 

 peculiar clucking noise until he gets between her and the water, when 

 his tone changes and, with a growl, he drives her to a place in his 

 family. 



This continues until the lower row begins to get full, when those 

 higher up from the shore, watching their opportunity when their neigh- 

 bor is off his guard, rob his family to augment their own. This they 

 do by taking the female in their mouths and carrying her to their own 

 ground. Those still higher up pursue the same plan until all the space 

 is occupied. Frequently a struggle ensues between two males for the 

 same female, both seizing her at once and either pulling her asunder 

 or terribly lacerating her. After the ground has been covered the old 

 male devotes his time to keeping order in his family and driving away 

 intruders, Within two or three days after their arrival the females 

 give birth to one pup each, which is of a very dark brown color and 

 weighs from six to twelve pounds. The mother manifests a strong 

 attachment for her young and distinguishes its cry, which resembles 

 the bleating of a lamb, among thousands. Soon after the birth of the 

 pup the female receives the male on the rocks, but it is doubtful 

 whether this connection is often perfect. She is subsequently allowed 

 to go into the water, where she is followed by the young males, by 

 whom the connection is repeated. Upon her return to the rookeries 

 she is from this time allowed greater freedom and goes at will from one 

 point to another. 



By the middle of August the females have all brought forth their 

 young, and the old males, who have constantly occupied their places 

 for four months without food, resigu their charge to the bachelors and 

 go into the water for the apparent purpose of feeding. The assertion 

 that the seals live so long without food seems so contrary to nature 

 that I will state that I took special pains to examine daily a large ex- 

 tent of rookery and note it carefully. The rocks on the rookeries are 

 worn smooth and washed by the surf, and any discharge of excrement 

 could not fail to be seen. I found in a few instances a single discharge 

 of excrementitious matter on the arrival of the seals, but nothing sub- 

 sequently to indicate that any food is taken ; nor do they leave the 

 rocks at any time except when compelled by the heat to seek the water 

 to cool themselves. 



On their arrival in the spring they are very fat and round, but at the 

 end of four months are thin and of little more than half their former' 

 weight. I also examined the stomachs of several hundred young seals, 

 but was unable to find any traces of food in them. 



The udder of the female is situated about half-way between the fore 

 and hind flippers, and is furnished with four teats. The milk is of a 

 yellowish white color, insipid to the taste, and is said to contain no 

 sugar. The pups nurse but seldom, and when separated from the 



