152 MARINE 3IAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



shore ; then, passing through the surf, they collect upon the beaches, and divide 

 into families, or rookeries, as far as practicable. These families, or divisions, 

 are o-uardcd by the "wigs," who can only maintain their authority and position 

 at the expense of frequent pitched battles with others of their sex who may 

 attempt to displace them. They also keep a watchful eye over the numerous 

 "clapmatches" under their charge; and should one attempt to take to the water, 

 she is immediately driven back, and frequently suffers from the savage bites of her 

 master for attempting to escape. It is no unusual occurrence, in the height of the 

 season, to see two full-grown "wigs" fight by the hour, exhibiting much tact in 

 their assaults upon each other, both endeavoring to gain advantage by some adroit 

 movement — at times making a savage lock with their mouths, or seizing each other 

 by the fore flippers, or gashing necks and bodies with their sharp, tusk -like teeth. 

 Sometimes we have seen several old males together on a separate beach, who 

 were cut in ever}^ direction, and apparently had retired from the main herd, being 

 imable to continue the fight in consequence of wounds received. 



Frequently, many thousands of seals congregate on the same island. They 

 prefer remote, isolated situations, often upon barren rocks or islands, the shores of 

 which are surrounded by a high surf, in which they delight to pla,}'. They some- 

 times ascend high, precipitous rocks, where it is next to impossible for man to 

 follow them. Their food consists of fish and a variety of other marine productions, 

 and small stones or pebbles are found in their maws. AA^hen a great number are 

 collected on shore, their barking and howling is almost deafening ; and when 

 passing to leeward of a seal island, the odor arising from it is anything but pleasant. 



AA^e have before spoken of the wide geographical distribution of the Fur Seals, 

 and of their gregarious propensities. AVe may add, likewise, from our own observa- 

 tion as well as the expressed opinion of several experienced sealing -masters, that 

 their natural migrations extend over a great expanse of the ocean ; and if they are 

 unusually disturbed in their favorite haunts for several successive seasons, they are 

 quite sure to seek some distant or unknown place, where they can congregate 

 unmolested by man. 



The females have great affection for their young, which may be more manifested 

 on a coast where, by almost constant hunting from year to year, they have become 

 wild and shy. 



On one of the San Benito Islands, on the coast of Lower California, we once 

 watched with interest a "clapmatch" and her pup, which was but a few weeks 

 old. She approached the shore cautiously, with her little one nestling about her; 

 and while "hauling" upon the beach, she was constantly on the lookout, but at 



