412 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



being admirably adapted for rookery purposes, covered as it is by large bowlders like 

 the lagoon. One dead bull, 5 dead cows, and 1 yearling holostiak were also found on 

 this rookery. One of the cows and the holostiak were fresh, and the skins were taken 

 for museum purposes. 



The dead cow contained a full-time fetus, evidently all right. It was saved and 

 brought home for data as to weight and measurement. The fetus was ready to be 

 presented head first, contrary to the order of presentation in the birth witnessed 

 on Ardigueu, where the hind flippers appeared first and the head last. It is to be 

 noted that here is a pup still unborn, showing that the limit of births extends late into 

 August. 



The lungs of the cow were found to be badly congested. She might have been 

 roughly handled by a bull. Xo other cause of death seemed apparent. • 



The holostiak showed a crushed skull; evidently from a blow on the head. 

 There was also considerable congestion on the back of the neck and shoulders. 

 Might have been the result of a blow at a killing, but as no killings from this region 

 have been made since July 27, and as the animal must have died within a few hours, 

 this can not have been the cause. 



As a rule no worms are found in the stomachs of the pups dissected. A few 

 were found in the small intestine of a starved pup. They probably do not get them 

 until they begin to eat fish. 



PROPORTION OF PUPS TO COWS. 



A count of pups at Zapadni Eeef confirms what we were led to expect from the 

 count on Lagoon. It is significant as showing that through the coming and going of 

 cows on the rookery, it happens that at no one time can all the cows be found, or even 

 much more than one-half of them. The counts, therefore, on which the census of the 

 rookeries has been based are not true to the facts. They can, however, be corrected 

 if we can ascertain the proportion between the cows actually present and the pups 

 born. It will be necessary to count Kitovi and other places to determine and verify 

 this excess of living pups, and, if possible, to form a new basis of enumeration. This 

 discovery necessarily affects the estimate of True and Townsend for last season, which 

 was based upon the supposition that all the cows were present when it was made in 

 July. 



LITTLE ZAPADNI ROOKERY. 



The count of dead pujjs on Zapadni and Little Zapadni was made by Dr. Jordan 

 and Mr. Macoun, Professor Thompson and Mr. Lucas, dissecting such as were fresh. 



Little Zapadni is a steep hillside covered with coarse angular bowlders. Among 

 the large rocks are many depressions full of rainwater, and excessively filthy from the 

 excrement of the seals. 



This rookery has very few dead pups. Of all the rookeries on the island it is the 

 most difficult for a man to walk over. The total number of dead i)ups was 134; there 

 were 6 dead cows. A living cow was seen which had been severely wounded on the 

 back. The wound was beginning to heal. A yearling female was noticed playing 

 with the pups much as a girl would play with dolls. 



Eighteen dead pups were found on the sandy beach between Little Zapadni and 

 Zapadni proper. 



