Australian Fur Seal Continued

Thinking it desirable to visit the actual locality in Western Port Bay, where the French voyagers with Quoy and Gaimard originally found the type specimen of this species, still in the Paris Museum, I last year went out in a small steamer from Phillip Island to the smaller island on which these Seals abound in the breeding season.

The coast is so rocky, and the surf so dangerous that it is only on rare occasional days that a landing can be safely made, and on this occasion is was quite impossible to do so.

On looking with a good binocular, one could soon make out that the greater number of what looked like brown bare, rounded rocks over the surface of the island were really Seals.

On the steam whistle being blown they all started up, and, with the precise action of a flock of crowded sheep driven by a dog, they awkwardly galloped in a confused cluster, jumping up on those in front in their hurry to get down to the sea, into which most of them plunged; a few old large males alone standing their ground, well raised up on their bent fin-like legs, as in our plate, with their broad breast to the foe, and head raised, threateningly showing their teeth, and erecting the hair of the neck angrily, like a short mane.

After a little while, scores of the females and younger males came swimming out to our little vessel to look at us, raising their kind, intelligent, good-humored, dog-like heads, with beautiful large, brown, soft eyes, looking like large Retriever Dogs with the pleased and friendly expression they wear when approaching their masters.

During the breeding season the roaring of the old males may be heard half a mile off, high above the thunders of the surf, and they show great courage and ferocity in defending the females and young when attacked by man.

The young are very easily tamed, and one was going about the kitchen of the hotel at the time of my visit like a rather lame dog, following the housekeeper everywhere with affectionate pertinacity, and playing with a young kangaroo and some other tame animals about the house with all the fun of a kitten or young puppy. It would come when called like a dog, and obviously liked to have its head stroked with the hand.

Having told my friends, Trooper Ardill and the sealer, Ross, that I should like to have their observations on the creature in writing for publication, the former furnished me with the following interesting account, which I give in his own words, conveying Ross's observations and his own.

- Frederick McCoy

Ross's Letter:

Cowes Police Station, 12th March 1880.

In reply to your enquiries relative to the Seals which frequent the Seal Rocks off Phillip Island:-The Seals come to the rocks about 1st October. The time of bringing forth the pups is between 10th November and 10th December. They do not commence to breed until they are three years old. The male (or bull) during the pupping season will ascend the rocks and stop for one or two months without food, and is extremely attentive to the female (or cow) and pups. When the females fight and quarrel he restores order. The bull is very fat in the beginning of the season and yields from five to ten gallons of oil, and in three weeks after will hardly yield one gallon, the yield of course depending on the age and size of the bull. The cows are seldom killed, as they have very little fat. It is against the rule of sealers to kill a cow or the pups.

The bull is very furious at pupping season, and when disturbed will go into the water and return in a few minutes. Out of season they go to sea in the morning and return at night. When fighting they strike each other like the boar; their teeth are about 1 1/2 inches long, and cut terribly. I have seen cuts from 1 to 10 inches in length.

The cow generally brings forth one pup, sometimes two. They keep good watch, and care affectionately for their offspring. They circle round them in rough stormy weather, and keep them from any wash or sea that may come over the rocks. I have seen three pups washed off the rocks, and the cows have immediately followed and brought them on the rocks again in an astonishingly rapid manner. I have also seen them catch a pup in their mouth, and throw them 10 feet high, and never hurt them.

The cow has six teats, I think, which they draw into the udder or body when not suckling their young. The milk is very white and strengthening. Should a cow die or be killed, her pup is suckled by the other cows. This I am told is the case, but I can't vouch for it. All I write is my experience on the Seal Rocks, off "The Nobbies", at Phillip Island, Victoria.

GEORGE ARDILL,

Mounted Constable.