observations on habits and the specimens that we secured form a decided 
contribution to imowledgc# Jl considerable number livea in this atoll 
and more were found at Ocean Island# JProm these colonies stragglers spread 
occasionally to Laysan# Lisiansuci* and Midway# i^e rnonc seal^fa* a hair 
vrA (x. 
seal 30 that ttff pelt was formerly valuable only for leatherj iiico many 
A 
other similar species i* is now reduced to a point where it has no 
commercial status as a single sealing expedition could easily exterminate 
it* It is fortunate that the remnants of its raoe are confined to this 
great bird reservation Where we may hope to preservo an interesting animal 
for future generations* 
Adult seals were from seven to nine feet long, with bodies covered ^ ' J ') 
with short 
hair* They fed on fish and when satisfied crawled out 
on the beaahes to rest and sleep* It wa3 common to find them forty or 
fifty yards from the water* sometimes surrounded by groups of young 
albatross* or lying alone amid clumps of grass* The seals seemed friendly 
harmless creatures that opened their great soft eyes to look at me and 
then often olosed them again with a long sign to continue their slumbers. 
Others more interested rolled about with queer whining calls, unable to 
make me out. Only mothers with now born pups, as black as ink, or occasional 
bull3 offered any offense and their movements were so slow and clumsy that 
their awkward rushes were easily avoided* Unlike many other species ■whore 
each bull guards a harem during the breeding period, the monk seals seem to 
divide into pairs and to feed and sleep thus in oompany* 
