COUNT OF LITTLE EAST ROOKERY. 295 



be nearer the correct figure for this rookery. This would give for this rookery a total 

 of from 159 to 177 harems and from 2,700 to 3,000 cows.' 



On comparison, with Mr. Townsend's maps of last year, this rookery shows ia 

 several places a shrinkage. Compared with Mr. True's estimate of last year, the 

 harems thus counted by us on North rookery show practically the same average. His 

 total of 5,528 cows counted for 342 harems gives an average of about 18. The total 

 of 1,413 cows for 78 harems gives an average of 18 also. (Lucas.) 



The pups are podding, i. e. gathering in little groups away from the harems. 

 From their number, one would judge that no cow failed of impregnation last season 

 through lack of virility on the part of the bulls. A harem counted last night contained 

 43 cows; it contained the same number to-day and at least 40 pups. From their 

 abundance it would seem that nearly all pups are born.^ ^o dead pups are seen ; 1 

 pup seen to nurse. (Lucas.) 



One small harem was located in the path frequented by the bachelors in reaching 

 their hauling grounds. A number of idle bulls, and some half bulls, were holding 

 positions at the foot of the runway and others were hanging about the rear of the 

 rookery; some were very bold. Many of the bulls were active and vicious. One 

 charged 20 feet at an outlying idle bull. A bull lying at the top of the cliff, having a 

 cow and pup, charged a considerable distance at Dr. Stejneger. Three bulls were 

 observed to copulate; time, 6, 6, and 5 minutes, respectively. (Lucas.) 



LITTLE EAST ROOKERY. 



Little East rookery is located on a surface strewn with blocks of bowlder lava. 

 It lies back on a gradual slope formed by the -breaking down of the cliffs, which 

 everywhere, between the rookery and the village, rise perpendicular from the water. 



The following detailed count of harems and cows was made by Dr. Jordan: 



Detailed count of Little East rookery. 



.Total cows 355 



Total harems 27 



Average size of harem , 18 + 



A duplicate count made by Mr. Clark gave substantially the same results. 



A group of 78 cows contained 2 bulls, and another of 60 cows contained 4 bulls. 

 These could not be separated into harems. The bulls seemed to have reached some 

 sort of an understanding and were holding the females in common. 



1 The results of this count, when compared with that made on July 31 by Colonel Murray, in 

 company with Mr. Lucas, which showed 225 harems, seems to give warrant for the belief afterwards 

 arrived at that the original counts on St. George were made before the rookeries had attained their 

 maximum. The investigations of 1897, however, showed that the count late in July was still less 

 reliable, the real status of the rookery lying somewhere between the two counts. 



2 Later it was found that the pups exceeded the cows two to one; but at this time the current 

 notion that all, or practically all, the cows were present was shared in by us. 



