THE RETURN OF THE BULLS AFTER FEEDING. 479 



the bare shank of the fore flipper, which they seem to understand to be the weak spot 

 in their adversary. By twos and threes they are in constant motion. 



A few of the half bulls are rounding up imaginary harems of younger bachelors, 

 but the business does not seem so real. There are still a number of fine-looking old 

 bulls lying among the cows. A dozen can be counted within easy range. 



The cows are lying in all manner of positions on the flat stones because of the 

 mud. An unusual number are in. I can not see any starving pups here, though 

 many were seen the other day at the water's edge. It is probable that the starving 

 ones do not come so far back. 



The original rookery ground is still deserted, and the main body of the seals lies 

 back of Townsend's Crosses. Spread out as they are — cows, pups, and bachelors — one 

 could easily make wild guesses about the number. There seem to be double the 

 number present to-day that have been seen at any other time this season. 



On the flat plain above connecting with the brow of the cinder slope are 

 straggling groups of bachelors. A greater number than usual are on the flat just 

 above the cinder slope. Probably the rain of the past few days has made the slope a 

 disagreeable place to stay upon. There are fewer seals on it than usual. 



ARDIGXJEN. 



About the head of the slide are 100 or more yearlings and 2-year-old bachelors, 

 playing and chewing one another as at the other end of the Eeef. The stream of 

 bachelors extends down into the runway off Eeef Point. There are cows and pups 

 among them farther down. 



The big brown bull that has been in A's place is on hand to-day, with the 

 bachelors about him. Two young bulls are fighting near him. One of them seems 

 very much excited and keeps up a steady roar. He remains while the other one 

 withdraws. He sees me, and then watching me, keeps on roaring. He goes down 

 into his old place, then goes out to meet the big browu fellow, and after a show of 

 fight the big fellow moves away. The smaller bull is just in and dripping. As he 

 dries he begins to look familiar, and, catching sight of his left fore flipper with its 

 great scar, I recognize him at once as the original A of the slide back in his old place- 

 His every action seems to proclaim that he is at home. A wet cow comes up with her 

 piip and he rounds her up and talks to her. He moves about just as in the breeding 

 season. This bull has not been about for at least three weeks, and he comes back 

 looking as if he had been away feeding. 



The big brown bull has gone over to B's original place, just as if he recognized 

 A's right to the shelf under the rock and went home. He looks as though he might 

 actually be B. 



A wet cow is coming up the " slide," calling loudly. A little gray pup, very thin 

 and with a starved look, wakes up from under the big rock on the south side of the 

 slide. He is at the top of the cliff and she is at the bottom, and it looks like a case 

 of recognition. The little fellow sets out to cliinb down and slips, sliding head over 

 heels to the bottom. The cow recognizes him and starts up the incline at a place 

 beyond, the poor little pup after her. He has to make many trials. He looks just 

 like many of the pups we have been pronouncing doomed. The cow's ears are white. 

 She wanders about and settles down on the flat stone that formed part of the 



