504 WILD ANIMALS. 



Tlie number of wives appropriated by eacb bull varies, 

 apparently, according to tlie position of tlie ground upon wbicli 

 the animal bas been able to establish himself. Those nearest the 

 water have between fifteen and twenty, and those in the rear 

 from five to twelve. 



The males that come late and are unable in consequence to 

 obtain or keep a position any way near the water-line, have to 

 remain in the rear of the rookeries, in a bachelor condition, and 

 patiently await their opportunity, but when one of the more 

 fortunately situated males is severely wounded, or has to vacate 

 his position from any cause, one of these single animals promptly 

 moves into the vacant place. 



Soon after the cow-seals have all landed, the little jet-black pups 

 are born, and begin to paddle about and enjoy life from the very 

 start. They are treated with great apathy by their mothers. 

 Mr. EUiott says : " I have never seen a seal-mother caress or 

 fondle her offspring ; and should it stray to a short distance from 

 the harem, I could step to and pick it up, and even kill it before 

 the mother's eye, without causing her the slightest concern, as far 

 as all outward signs and manifestations would indicate. The same 

 indifference is also exhibited by the male to all that may take 

 place of this character outside of the boundary of his seraglio ; 

 but the moment the pups are inside the limits of his harem-ground 

 he is a jealous and fearless protector, vigilant and determined; 

 but if the little animals are careless enough to pass beyond this 

 boundary, then I can go up to them and carry them off before 

 the eye of the old Turk without receiving from him the slightest 

 attention on their behalf. A curious guardian, forsooth ! " 



An odd, paradoxical thing about these young pups is, that until 

 they are a month or six weeks old they are utterly unable to 

 swim. If one of them is pitched into the water, " his bullet-like 

 head will drop instantly below the surface, and his attenuated 

 posterior extremities flap impotently on it. Suffocation is the 

 question of only a few minutes, the stupid little creature not know- 

 ing how to raise his immersed head and gain the air again. After 

 they have attained the age I indicate, their instinct drives them 

 down to the margin of the surf, where the alternate ebbing and 



