ZooL.— Vol. III.] HELLER— GALAPAGOS MAMMALS. 247 



difference in habits is perhaps due to its long persecution 

 by sealers. The roughest parts of the coast are preferred, 

 the sheltered coves resorted to so much by Otaria being 

 ignored by Ar otocephalus. 



The seals are now so reduced in number and so scattered 

 that no well-defined rookeries exist. On Wenman they 

 were found in families scattered along the cliffs. Pups of 

 various ages were found there in December. On Nar- 

 borough they were confined to the roughest parts of the 

 coast. This island was visited at various times during the 

 months of January, March, and April. The rookeries were 

 situated on rocky beaches, the seals being widely scattered 

 and well concealed in holes and crevices. Pups were less 

 common than on Wenman, but like those were of various 

 ages, which led us to believe that no definite breeding 

 season exists. On Albemarle the fur seals were found 

 south of Iguana Cove on boulder-strewn beaches; they 

 were found in similar situations at Point Christopher, which 

 is north of the cove, and also in Bank Bay near the north end 

 of the island. The rookeries at Point Christopher and 

 Bank Bay are exceptional in their situation, being bathed 

 by comparatively quiet water. The rookery on Tower 

 Island is said to be confined to the southeast coast on a very 

 rough part of the beach. Fur-seals have been reported 

 from Abingdon Island, but none have been taken there 

 recently. 



Arctocepkalus was formerly abundant in the Galapagos. 

 In 1816 Fanning^ reported from there a catch of eight 

 thousand skins. As late as 1880 large catches were made, 

 but the seals are now so diminished that one or two hundred 

 are all that can be obtained in a season. However, they 

 are apparently holding their own, for Captain William P, 

 Noyes has for several consecutive years taken two hundred 

 skins. The known records of fur-seal catches in the Gala- 

 pagos account for approximately eighteen thousand skins, 

 but these probably represent only a minor portion of the 

 number actually taken. 



1 U. S. Fur Seal Investigations, pt. 3, 1899, p. 273. 



