15G MARINE 3IAM3IALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



for, almost invariably, those of the band which had been taken by the Indians 

 were females— are found to have foetuses in them that must necessarily be brought 

 forth in the course of a month or two, Avhich would probably be about the time 

 they would arrive in that far northern region. The Indians unanimously affirm 

 that they come from the south and go to the north. It is quite certain that they 

 do not resort to any islands in or near the strait, or the adjacent coast. As near 

 as can be ascertained, the main body pass by the mouth of the strait during the 

 months of March and April and a part of May, after which comparatively few are 

 seen ; scattering ones, however, remain till the close of summer, as before men- 

 tioned. But where these countless herds of fur- bearing animals resort to in winter 

 seems a mystery. All we know is, that at the proper seasons of the year they 

 come on shore plump and fat, the females have their young, and all remain about 

 the land until the little ones are sufficiently matured to migrate. 



At the expense of being prolix, we quote the following from the notes of 

 Captain Bryant,* whose stay upon the Island of St. Paul, Behring Sea, afforded 

 him ample opportunity to study the habits of the Callorhimis ursimis : 



"The Fur Seals resort to the Pribyloff Islands during the summer months for 

 the sole purpose of reproduction, f Those sharing in these duties necessarily remain 

 on or near the shore until the young are able to take to the water. During this 

 considerable period the old seals are not known to take any food. These, and no 

 others, occupy the rookeries (or breeding -grounds) with the females. 



"The breeding-rookeries, which are frequented exclusively by the old males 

 and females, with their pups, occupy the belt of loose rocks along the shores 

 between the high -water line and the base of the cliffs or uplands. The old male 

 appears to return each year to the same rock, so long as he is able to maintain 

 his position. J The native chiefs affirm that one seal, known by his having lost 

 one of his flippers, came seventeen successive years to the same rock. Those 

 under six years are never allowed by the old ones on these places. They usually 

 swim in the water along the shore all day, and at night go on the upland above 

 the rookeries, and spread themselves out, like flocks of sheep, to rest. 



* See Bulletin of (he Museum of Comparative animals do not invariably return every year to 



Zoology, Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., Vol. the same rookery, or island. We are informed 



II, No. 1 — "On the Eared Seals." by J. A. by Captain Earskin, of the Alaska Commercial 



^^' Company's service, that some young seals which 



fSome observers say that they shed their were marked upon St. Paul's Island during 



the season of 1872, were found the year foUow- 



t Subsequent observations prove that these iug on St. George's Island.— C. M. S. 



