193 



the words printed in the Act. Upon the islands where they 

 a^re "protected" they are slaughtered as freely and as 

 l)arbarously as they are upon the islands where the killing is 

 sanctioned by the law. As a matter of fact, the seals anywhere 

 upon the islands are at the mercy of any scoundrel who cares 

 for the revolting brutality of their slaughter, and deems the 

 gain of a few shillings sufficient reward for the labour involved 

 in flaying the carcass and preparing the pelt. Only one 

 species has so far been seen on the islands. 



Arctocepkalus forsferi (Lesson). 



The large "hair seal" may still be met with on certain 

 of the islands in considerable numbers, and, if no sealing 

 party has recently molested them, they exhibit a most 

 engaging tameness, evincing a strangely persistent curiosity 

 in the coming and going of visitors. There is no need to 

 ■describe the general distinguishing characters of the species, 

 and figs. 8, 9, and 10 sufficiently demonstrate the external 

 characters of the head and limbs. There are six cheek teeth 

 in the upper jaw (see fig. 11) and five in the lower. In colour 

 there is a great variety, the variations being apparently due 

 to age and sex ; but it must also be remembered that, in 

 judging the colour of a living seal, the degree of drying of 

 the pelage must be taken into account. In the bulls there 

 is constantly a lighter-coloured mane. The young pups are 

 a rich dark brown, with the naked parts of the skin black; 

 the eye is dark brown. 



In the summer months, the seals are for the most part 

 in little parties, with pups ranging from some 2 ft. up to 

 nearly adult size. The voice of the old bulls is harsh and 

 loud, and that of the pups a hissing growl rising to a sequence 

 of pathetic yelps very much like those of a small dog. When 

 disturbed on the islands most of the animals emit a series of 

 long-drawn sniffs, and if the disturbance is continued the 

 sniffs become a harsh grunting, and with that the animal 

 gallops for the sea. Their pace on land is altogether sur- 

 prising, and so is their ability to climb up the steep cliffs 

 of some of the islands. On Price Island, especially, are well- 

 worn tracks up the cliffs to the top of the island some 250 ft. 

 above. On the top of the island, family parties lie basking 

 in the sun, and the only danger that a seal is likely to prove 

 is his desire to come down his path to the sea whilst the 

 visitor is coming up. Apart from this, they are wholly 

 inoffensive animals, and are deserving of all the protection 

 that can be afforded them. 



