Translation 2783

• . • • . 102
. In spite of the discontinuous nature of the range and the
existence of wide differences in latitude between the regions, pupping
takes place everywhere in May and June. According to American
investigators, *parturition by females in the norteeastern Part of
the range takes place from the end of May to -
in our northern waters it takes place in Hay and June ;
Kurile Islands in the last-twenty days of June.
the last days of June;
and on the
1-upuing is preceded
by the forMation of harem rookeries in the first half or May. A
harem contains un to 20 female's.
A female usually produces a single
pu ')? , which is capable of independent movement four or five hours
after birth. The pupG .
are not very active for the first few days,
do not move far from the spot where they lie, and are in-:adapted for
'life in the water, as they are in the stage of post-uterine moUlting. *
. The lactation period is fairly long in the northern sea lion.
During the first months alter parturition the female Leeds her puP
frequently, with milk containing up to 40 of fat. A single feeding
lasts for up to 15 minutes; the pup rapidly gains weight, weighing
30-35 kg when one month old. The female does not usually-suckle pups
of other females. It has been determined that the lactation period
lasts for a year; frequent instances have been recorded of a female
suckling two young -- a new-born pup and a yearling.
'IJoth milk and
other foods have been found in tue - stomachs of. some yearlings.
Matin' by the adults takes place on the shore, beginning a
few days after te feuales produce their young and.concluding in
early July. Gestation lasts for about 11 months. The females become
semially mature at the age or three or four years, and the males at
the ace of five Or six years,
A gradual breakdown of harem life is
olnerved in the firet half of July, and by the end of July the harems
• have.dispersed.
During the pupl)ing period sexually-mature males
without harems lie . at a distance from the harems, sin , ly or in groups,
Sexqally-im:àature males (bachelors) al;_o form separate rookeries.
The shore roo_eries of northern sea lions are usually located at
c.oints, dif .ficulL of access, on -11ands, reeru, and promon-
secluded
torie:3 extending far out to sea in deep-water areas
:e'er -Lie forma-
tion of harem rookeries the seals usually select small level areas
of rock, with i:entle relief, located on te
:eles'ase bach•lers lie en hi,.her md mole riu:_cd
but .une nareMless