442 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



rookery bulls in the height of season are 8 years and upward. After eight or ten 

 years it is diiflcult or impossible to tell anything about the age of bulls. Mr. Eedpath 

 thinks they live at least twenty years, and I should be inclined to say from twenty to 

 thirty. 



The bulls enjoy sleeping in the sun with hind flippers extending directly 

 backward. This is a favorite attitude, and there is no indication of impotency or 

 paralysis about it. Another favorite attitude for a good sleep is with flipijers tucked 

 up, fore flippers pointing backward, hind flippers pointing forward. 



The little cove across from Zoltoi aff'ords a fine opportunity to study variations in 

 size and color. Bulls vary from light gray to dark brown. A gray bull starts for the 

 water dragging his hind flippers, but a little later shows that he is playing off. The 

 two killed some days ago were, however, not playing off, for one ijainfally dragged 

 himself clear across Zoltoi. And yet when killed there was no apparent injury to 

 account for the action. 



A few years ago the steep slope of the little " cove" was dug away in order that 

 seals might haul onto Zoltoi from the east. It has now been worn too steep, but a 

 little labor would soon put it in shape so that seals could easily reach Zoltoi Bluffs 

 from the east. At present they are limited to the little sand beach. 



ARDIGUEN. 



Going down by way of the Reef to Slide, I find there are now 7 dead pups in the 

 gully. Three have been added since Friday, including one noted as sick. Even the 

 recently dead pups look as if long dead, while two of them are flat and trampled. Two 

 jnore are starving and are not long for this world. A wet cow sits on a stone and 

 calls. Her pup comes, but can not possibly climb the stone, and says so. After about 

 twenty minutes the cow gets down and meanders about a little. The pu^j follows 

 eagerly and says he wishes to nurse. The cow lies down for about two minutes and 

 then goes back to the stone, followed by the pup. The cow calls, but the pup can not 

 climb the stone and finally lies down by it. I have watched them for three-fourths 

 of an hour. 



It is wonderful how the seals have spread about aud how many there are on the 

 gravel slope of Grorbatch. The heavy gale of yesterday has sent them ashore, as did 

 the former gale. 



MB. CLARK'S NOTES ON THE REEF. 



The harems noted the past two days have been swallowed up in the backward 

 movement of the seals, which seems to continue. Cows and pups are spread all over 

 the width of the hauling ground. Another day's backward movement and they will 

 be up on the parade grounds. It was necessary to chase a hundred or more seals from 

 the edge of the rocky observation cliff. At the south of the cliff, where not more than 

 a dozen cows and only 3 pups were seen on Saturday, are now 40 pups and almost as 

 many cows, besides numerous holostiaki. 



Among the bachelors, where two lone cows were nursing their pups on Friday, 

 are 32 cows and 84 pups. At the edge of the group, and apparently in charge of 3 

 or 4 cows, is a young bull. 



The gale of yesterday afternoon and evening has apparently driven many seals 

 in. More are on the grounds to-day and they are scattered more widely. 



