314 THE FUE SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



The only "massed" portion of Gorbatch is along the edge of the cinder slope. 

 There are several large groups that extend wedge-shaped up the slope. Townsend's 

 map is very close to present facts on Gorbatch. 



REEF PARADE GROUND. 



Above the cinder slope of Gorbatch is a level plateau known as the "parade 

 ground," which gradually slopes toward the eastern shore of Eeef peninsula and 

 extends back to the hauling ground of Eeef rookery. The highest part of this 

 plateau is bare, but toward the eastward it is covered with a thick growth of grass. 

 In earlier years it was kept entirely bare by the herds of wandering bachelors. To-day 

 it is deserted. 



In order to settle the question of how long it would take territory of this kind to 

 become grass-grown, a space which was bare in 1892 was marked off with stone 

 cairns by Messrs. Stanley-Brown, Townsend, and Macoun. The space so set off is now 

 covered with seal grass (Qlyoera^ angustata), like the regions about it. Saxifrage, 

 artemesia, and segina are also growing in it. 



ARDiaUEN. 



At 3.30 a. m., while on the way to the drive, the typical harems on Ardiguen were 

 visited. Two instances of copulation were seen at this time. The animals were as 

 active as in the daytime. Of the pod of 38 pups 26 still remained. The harems had 

 the same number as in the afternoon. 



In the afternoon a second visit was made. Two half bulls were on the rocks above 

 harem A. Harem B lay on a space about 36 by 30 feet. This would give 45 square 

 feet each, no account being taken of space about them. They could all be crowded 

 into 480 square feet, if all were as closely packed as some are. This would give an 

 area of 20 square feet each, or with pups, 10 square feet. This, however, would not 

 occur naturally, and 23 square feet may be taken as a maximum in close masses, as 

 True has estimated. 



If B covers 36 by 30, A to G cover 108 by 72, or 58 square feet for each cow; with 

 bulls and pups, 24 square feet each. This is above the average for rookeries under the 

 cliffs, as 23 is a maximum in massed rookeries. True's estimate is not very far from 

 correct, if rookeries could be measured. 



LUKANIN ROOKERY. 



On Lukanin was seen a little cow, apparently a 2-year-old, slender, young looking, 

 silvery gray in color, with features of a yearling. She was in a harem alone with a 

 young bull well np from the shore and near no others. There was no pup. She may 

 be a virgin. According to Mr. Townsend, Mr. Stanley-Brown, and others, the silvery 

 gray ones are lately in from the water; the brown ones are those who have been in 

 long enough to become sunburned.' 



A little pup was found walking away alone well above the harems, going slowly 

 but steadily, as if it knew its way. It went some 15 rods, and was still going when last 



' Further observation showed that the silvery cows were young. The newly arrived adult is more 

 olive-tinted than the sunburned cow, but is not silvery. 



