yellow-white colour covered with small black or grey spots. Many intermediate
forms exist which show variation approaching one type or the other.
This colouration is constant from the end of September until July, when
the whole coat undergoes curious changes of colour before it is shed in August.
In most of the dark males the hair turns a rich brown, usually in patches but
sometimes all over the coat, while the old black and grey spots fade to almost
a vanishing point. In nearly all adult males the whole of the under parts turns
a uniform sandy or golden brown in August; the spots have vanished by the
loss of pigment, and if we look closely we see the new yellow jacket with its dark
spots appearing underneath. In the case of the very light types of males, in
August the whole of the head, neck, under parts, and flippers turns a light sandy
yellow, and only the back is still flecked with grey spots, which are not noticeable
at a distance of a few yards. In a herd of Seals in August one or two of these
old yellow males are always to be seen; when the sun is shining on them
they look almost white all over, and are locally called ‘ white Seals.’
The adult females closely resemble the males, although they are rarely so
big, the head in particular being much smaller. The dark spots on the back
are usually set much closer together, while the under parts are generally lighter
and are seldom so heavily flecked as in the males. As a rule the females change
their coats more than a fortnight before the males, and although dark forms in
brown pelage are common in August we never see the other extreme, namely the
nearly pure sandy yellow type, among the sex at this season. I think I need
hardly describe the pelages more minutely, as good examples of every type and
age are given in the illustrations.
Naturalists are still disagreed as to whether the first coat of white fur is
shed immediately before or after birth. At any rate I feel certain that the young
are born with the complete second coat, which, although small in its markings,
is almost an exact replica of that of the adult female.
Young Seals at first grow with great rapidity; by the end of July they weigh
about. 25 to 30 lbs. and measure about 3 feet in length. In appearance they
resemble the old ones, but are without any spots on their sandy brown under
parts. After this these immatures increase slowly, and do not put on more than
a foot in length and are seldom fat at one year old. They continue to grow
slowly, and though considered to be adult at four years old I believe they put
on much weight and size subsequently.
I have measured and weighed a considerable number of Common Seals, and