EAEED-SEALS. 503 



convenient rock, and has an opportunity to quietly fan herself, 

 the eyes half-closed, and the head thrown back on her gently- 

 swelling shoulders." 



The females " are noticed and received by the males on the 

 water-line stations with attention ; they are alternately coaxed and 

 urged up on to the rocks, as far as these beach-masters can do so, 

 by chuckling, whistling and roaring, and then they are imme- 

 diately under the most jealous supervision; but owing to the 

 covetous and ambitious nature of the bulls which occupy these 

 stations to the rear of the water-line and way back, the little cows 

 have a rough-and-tumble time of it when they begin to arrive in 

 small numbers at first, for no sooner is the pretty animal fairly 

 established on the station of male number one, who has welcomed 

 her there, than he, perhaps, sees another one of her style in the 

 water from whence she has come, and, in obedience to his poly- 

 gamous feeling, devotes himself anew to coaxing the latter arrival, 

 by that same winning manner so successful in the first case ; then 

 when bull number two, just back, observes bull number one ofE 

 guard, he reaches out with his long strong neck and picks up the 

 unhappy but passive cow by the scrufi" of hers, just as a cat does 

 a kitten, and deposits her upon his seraglio-ground ; then bulls 

 number three and four, and so on, in the vicinity, seeing this 

 high-handed operation, all assail one another, especially number 

 two, and for a moment have a tremendous fight, perhaps lasting 

 half a minute or so, and during this commotion the little cow is 

 generally moved, or moves, further back from the water two or 

 three stations more, where, when all gets quiet again, she usually 

 remains in peace. Her last lord and master, not having the 

 exposure to such diverting temptation as her first, gives her such 

 care that she not only is unable to leave, did she wish, but no 

 other bull can seize upon her. This is only a faint (and I fully 

 appreciate it), wholly inadequate description of the hurly-burly 

 and the method by which the rookeries are filled up from first to 

 last, when the females arrive." 



The ground selected is always on a gentle slope from the sea, 

 and is chosen with special reference to its drainage, so that it may 

 remain, or easily become dry and free from puddles. 



