THE WEDDELL SEA, 1903 9 



again fell in with the blue petrel. 1 Cape pigeons, Wilson's petrels, mollieraauks, 

 sheathbills and snowy petrels followed m the ship's wake at cliil'erent times. 



Feb. 7fli. <;<) 03' S. 39 44' W. A great host of nellies or giant petrels, Cape 

 pigeons and stormy petrels feeding on carcase of dead whale at 5 A.M. Nellies white 

 to nearly black. Snowy, Wilson's and blue petrels, Cape pigeons and a nelly were 

 seen during the remainder of the day. Rather foggy all day, and verv few birds were 

 seen. A small fish resembling a sardine, in a very mangled condition, probably about 

 3 inches in length was found in the oesophagus of Ross's seal which was captured 

 yesterday. Lobodons (both light and dark) and Stenorhynchus were met with to- 

 day. A large quantity of Euphausia was observed on the tongues of pack ice. 



Feb. 8th, 59 44' 8. 36 40' W. Birds were not seen to-day in such quantities as 

 on previous days, which may be accounted for by the morning being rather dull, 

 though in the afternoon it cleared up ; perhaps there was no food for them among the 

 closer pack. Cape pigeons, Wilson's petrels, blue prions and snowy petrels and 

 paddies or sheathbills were the only birds observed. Finuers conspicuous. Euphausia 

 still among honeycombed ice. 



Feb. ( Jth, 59 J 42' S. 34 13' W. Mr Bruce observed a seal early this morning 

 following the ship's wake, popping its head to port then diving and coming up on the 

 starboard. Pirie shot another seal (Stenorhynchus leptonyx) whose skin and skull we 

 preserved. The seals temperature was 96 - 0. Colour of pupil of eye same as that of 

 Ross's seal, metallic green. Stomach empty and only one parasitic nematode. This 

 makes our third seal. Euphausia still plentiful amongst honeycombed ice. I shot 

 two blue petrels 2 and missed another bird, like a snowy petrel in appearance, but with 

 darkish bass on its upper wings. Mr Bruce says it is a silver petrel, specimens of 

 which he has already noticed outside the pack edge. Stormy Wilson's, blue and snowv 

 petrels, Cape pigeons and giant petrels, and miners with calves have been seen. Captain 

 saw an albatros 3 asleep on the ice, white head and greyish back. Ross seal, Ottimato- 

 phoca rossi, shot to-day. 



Feb. Wth, 60 05' S. 32 10' W. Very few birds seen to-day ; Cape pigeons, 

 Wilson's petrels, and nellies, dark colour and white, being the only birds recorded. A 

 snowy petrel was observed to pick a fish out of the water. A Cape pigeon was seen 

 sitting on a piece of ice. T\vo sea-leopards (Stenorhynchus leptonyx), and two 

 examples of Lobodon were observed, besides several other seals, too far off to determine. 

 Both Lobodon and leopard have been observed in the water as well as on ice ; nearer 

 the South Orkneys they were quite common in the water. Of the three seals already 

 secured only one (Ross) had anything in its stomach. Pirie shot another Lobodon on 

 the floe, which was in a state of shedding its coat ; its blubber was 1 in. to lj ins. 

 thick. When Pirie approached the seal, it showed its teeth and uttered a sort of 

 whistling moaning sound, but made no attempt to escape or to attack. Temperature of 



1 No doubt Prion banksi. 



! These proved to be specimens of Prion banksi. 5 Very probably a giant petrel. 

 B 



