The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-12

and as they lift high their small but oomelV
heads and utter their resonant roars. whicn
can be heard for miles, even above the
laundering OF the surges, they form
picture of vigorous animal life
which cannot be excelled. Thsir
color. after drying off in the rocker
les. is dusky brown, but the part on the
shoulders called the "wign Is ALWAYS a
pepper-sud-salt hue In old males, who are
frequently called wigs" by the seal hunters.
They range In length from six to seven OF
more feet, and weigh between 400 and GOO
pounds. Their hugh necks and shoulders
are evidently very powerful, their ewes are
soft aud intelligent. and their heads full of
brains, to judge from their action. They
are at first demure and rarely ever lose
their temper, but few DAYS change their
character completely, owing TO the in
Erusion Of rivals, who attempt to drive
them from the homesteads they have pre-
empted by being first on the rookery.
This attempt at claim-jumping is resisted
by the homesteaders, particularly those
near the edge OF the water, with all the
spirit or the race, and from that moment
until they leave for their winter homes in
the ocean in October or November. every
wig" on the rookery is engaged in perpet-
ual strife with jealous rivals, who want to
rob him OF his home and mates. A veteran
may fight fifty fierce battles and win them
ouu, oAbor AL, De VanQulshed
aud driven from his home and
family by the fresh arrival from the ocean.
who has never been even in skirmisb
The victor then takes the mates of the
Nanquished under his protection, aud e. Q
defeated veteran must abide by himself. or
with brother seals in his own plight, unless
he can win home and family from some
weaker member.
These terrific oombats are the cause Of
Of
for all the combatants-aud thousands
OF them may be waging individual battles
at the same time-shout at the top Of
their voices while fighting, aud their
oamor is often increased by the bleating
OF thousands Of mothers calling for their
young, or the young crying for their
mothers. A combat bet cen a couple of
ways" or old bulls, is one Of the noisiest
known, for they seem to have as much faith
IN the power Of clamor to subdue foes as the
Chinese ever had. All their fights are
founded on single principle. One is the
aggressor. the other the defender, and the
contests are continued until one is totally
defeated. When two advance to the com.
bat they hosd their heads comicallv to the
side, as II they did not recognize each
others presence; but, getting within biting
range, they glare tercely erect their names,
and spit forth their spite in a series explos-
i've sounds, like those OF the escape valve Of
locomotive trying to start heavy load.
They raise the upper lips, show the teeth,
and make several feints before closing for
the real struggle, and every time they
thrust the head forward they utter the
splitting sound OF chul chul This may be
followed by growl that seems to come
from the larnyx, or by the long, loud and
resounding roar that expresses ferocious
anger and bold defiance. This is promptly
followed by a clumsy charge, and
when both meet they seize each other
with their strong canine teeth and rend
each other fearfully, for every time one
tears himself away he leaves part of his
skin and flesh behind. The Juggling, tear
ing, growing, roaring, shrill whistling and
tumoling may be CONTINUED for an hour or
two before the conflict ceases, perhaps to
be renewed again IN short time aud car.
ried on until one is defeated or both become
too exhausted even 10 growl at each other.
The males under years of age, which
are known in Alaska as holluschickle or
bachelors, never fight and seldom roar. and
are compelled to herd by themselves. apart
from the harenas, by the old bulls, or at the
best to pass in q mutually Recognized path
between the homesteaders to their
quarters far In the rear. Each sultan
averages from fifteen to twenty females
In his harem, but q veteran warrior
may have nifty, the number in bis pos
session depending on his power TO wrest
them from rivals and defend them against
all corners. Two sultans may seize the same
female and try to gain possession OF her,
OF one may attempt to steal a sultana from
the seraglio Of the other and when that ia
the case the coveted beauty has to undergo
all the suffering. as each contestant will
cling to Der with his teeth until he tears a
piece out OF her body.
She suffers all this torture in silence. and
when she is finally captured Is as patiert.
unpretentious and docile as IL she had never
been the cause Of duel When two sul-
tans fight the victor never follows I'D the
vanquished beyond the harem, which NAV
not be larger than 90 or 80 square feet, and
seems to forget all about him In a few min
utes. When female is once placed in a
seraglio she never quits it OF her own ac-
cord, and always returns to it when she
comes back from her foraglng expeditions
She may be abducted, however, and in that
case her lord and master dares every danger
to rescue her, even IL he has to trample her
to death in the effort