The voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe; with a historical review of previous journeys along the north coast of the Old World . vy rain many of the animals besides seek protectionin the sea, but return when the rain ceases. Continuous heatand sunshine besides exert the same influence ; cold, moist air,with mist-concealed sun, on the other hand draw them up onland by thousands. Males under six years of age cannot, like the older males,possess themselves, by fighting, of spouses and a home of theirown. They therefore collect, along with young females, in herdsof several thousand to several
The voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe; with a historical review of previous journeys along the north coast of the Old World . vy rain many of the animals besides seek protectionin the sea, but return when the rain ceases. Continuous heatand sunshine besides exert the same influence ; cold, moist air,with mist-concealed sun, on the other hand draw them up onland by thousands. Males under six years of age cannot, like the older males,possess themselves, by fighting, of spouses and a home of theirown. They therefore collect, along with young females, in herdsof several thousand to several hundred thousand, on the shoresbetween the rookeries proper, some of them close packed nextthe waters edge, others scattered in small flocks a little fartherfrom the shore on the grass, where they by turns play with eachother with a frolicsomeness like that of young dogs, by turnslie down to sleep at a common signal in all conceivablepositions. It is these unfortunate useless bachelors which at the properlymanaged hunting stations yield the contingent for this purpose they are driven by the natives from the shore. 014 THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [ciiAr. slowly, about a kilometre an hour, and with frequent rests, tothe place of slaughter, situated a kilometre or two from theshore. Then the females and the young ones are driven away,as well as the males whose skins are unserviceable. The restare first stunned with a blow on the head, and afterwardsstabbed with a knife. While the Vcija steamed down towards Behring Island wemet, already far from land, herds of sea-bears, which followedthe vessel from curiosity for long stretches. Being vmacquaintedwith the sea-bears mode of life, I believed from this circum-stance that they had already left their summer haunts, but onour arrival at the colony I was informed that this was not thecase, but that a very great number of animals still remained atthe rookery on the north-eastern point of the island. Naturallyone of our first exc
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidvoyageofvega, bookyear1882
