GORBATCH ROOKERY. 383 



MR. LUCAS'S NOTES ON ST. GEORGE. 



I went over to Zapadni to-day to see if any paps were drowned in the recent gale, 

 but found none. It commenced to blow Sunday night, the storm continuing quite 

 severe Monday, and gradually going down Tuesday. The surf at Zapadni was very 

 heavy, but the seals played about in it, diving below the crest of the waves like fishes. 



The seals are perceptibly more timorous and nervous than they were, even the 

 holostiaki taking Mght more readily than when we first arrived. The bulls which lie 

 about on the outside of the harems do not show fight. 



AUGUST 6. 



Dr. Jordan, accompanied by Judge Crowley, Chief Apollon, and Jacob, went 

 with a mule team to North Shore to get specimens of hair seals, and to investigate the 

 site of an old rookery (Marunichen) which is said to have formerly existed there. 



. Mr. Clark visited Gorbatch and Ardiguen. Mr, Macoun photographed Tolstoi 

 rookery and counted dead pups, finding 209 on the sand beach of English Bay where 

 recently 185 were counted. In the afternoon the Gorwin returned Mr. Lucas and 

 Professor Thompson from St. George. They report seeing a "killer" on their way 

 over, about 10 miles oft' St. Paul. 



Mr. Stanley-Brown reports to-day that he counted 476 rookery bulls on the sands 

 of English Bay in the space of a mile. These were not half bulls, but bulls which have 

 done or could have done service on the rookeries. This probably marks the return of 

 the first consignment of rookery bulls which have gone to feed. 



GORBATCH ROOKERY. 



Under the cliffs on Gorbatch a cow comes in from the water, stopping on a rock 

 at the edge and calling her pup. The little fellow comes down, getting wet in reaching 

 the rock. He climbs up and takes his meal under difficulties. Another cow on a 

 similar rock is letting her pup nurse. The little fellow stands on his hind flippers in 

 the water and can just barely reach the nipple. 



A pup is seen to hold his nose down, as if drinking, in a little pool or cup-like 

 depression in the rock full of rain water. He puts his head down into it several times 

 and then holds it up like a bird. The operation has the appearance of drinking, but 

 apparently does not diminish the water. 



The white bull on the long slope of Gorbatch is still in his place. There are three 

 cows and numerous pups about him. In fifteen minutes two of the cows go over the 

 edge of the slope. He makes no particular protest. Cows are leaving other harems 

 and going up to the level parade ground above, where there are several large harems. 

 Some are probably old cows, but most are virgins in charge of young bulls. One 

 harem is located over at the pile of rocks, with the cairn on top, more than halfway 

 across the parade ground. 



In a pool of considerable size, around the corner from the long slide on Gorbatch, 

 are a hundred or more pups playing in the water. The heavy surf washes into the 

 pool, driving the pups to the upper end. As it flows out the little fellows allow 

 themselves to be sucked out through the runway, tail first. When almost too far out 

 for safety they scramble back with great energy and show of fright, only to repeat the 

 performance with the next roller. They act as though they fully appreciated the 

 danger, but were seeing how near to it they dared go. They enjoy the fun immensely. 



