THE WEDDELL SEA, 1903 15 



Mr Bruce saw a seal in the forenoon, lint could not distinguish the species. Fragments 

 of siphonophore tentacles caught on sounding wire. 



March IGth, 63 51' S. 40 50' W. A great bird day; Cape pigeons, Wilson's 

 petrels and silver petrels have been seen to-day, all of which birds have not been 

 recorded for a long time. Antarctic petrels fairly common ; adelia penguins and snowy 

 petrels abundant and some terns. Grampuses have been seen by the captain. 

 Lowered away trawl in 2550 fathoms; 3000 fathoms of rope out; did not, however, 

 actually touch bottom, so only got a few beasts, including a fish (deep sea) and 

 medusoids (three species). 



March 17th, 63' 08' S. 42' 30' W. Another great bird day; Cape pigeons, snowy, 

 silver, Wilson's, giant and blue petrels seen during day. The blue petrel has not been 

 seen for some considerable time. Mr Bruce saw some 20 or 30 penguins seated on a 

 iceberg 40 or 50 feet high ; they must have jumped four to five feet out of the water 

 to have got on to the berg. Terns were also seen Hying about. Saw a sea-leopard 

 ( Stenorhynckus leptonyx) lying on a piece of ice. 



March 1 8th, 62 10' S. 41 20' W. Same birds as yesterday with the exception 

 of penguins. Lowered away trawl in 1775 fathoms with about 2300 to 2400 fathoms of 

 wire rope ; contents included about 36 species. Two species of fish, two species of 

 gasteropods and two of lamellibranchs, two species of pycnogons, a Gaprella and an 

 amphipod, a few species of chaetopods, a species of barnacle, one or two species of bryozoa, 

 seven or eight of asteroids, two of crinoids, two of echinoids represented only by spines, 

 one holothurian, a species of alcyonaria, two species of sponge and four of foraminifers. 



March 19th, 61 22' S. 42 05' W. Snowy and silver petrels abundant; a flock of 

 Wilson's petrels were observed by the captain sitting on the water. Cape pigeons and 

 blue petrels fairly common, also terns. Saw some white-throated penguins, probably 

 antarctic, sitting on a piece of ice. One finner and seals, a Lobodon and a 

 Stenorhynchus, have also been seen. 



March 10th, 61 05' S. 43 20' W. Snowy petrels and an albatros (Diomedea 

 exulans) were the only birds seen to-day. Misty and overcast all day. 



March 2lst, Leathivaite Strait, South Orkney*. Many Cape pigeons, silver and 

 Wilson's petrels, several sooty alhatroses and nellies, one skua, sheathbills, antarctic 

 and snowy petrels, shags and ringed penguins. Several finners also recorded for 

 to-day. 



March 22nd, Between Saddle Island and dtpe Bennett, South Orkneys. Cape 

 pigeons, nellies, sheathbills, skuas, antarctic, Wilson's, snowy and silver petrels and 

 finners have been seen to-day. 



March 23rd, Leathwaite Strait, South Orkneys. In the morning whilst out at 

 sea several snowy, silver, Wilson's and antarctic petrels seen. Whilst out in the boat 

 looking for Spence Harbour, saw several shags, nellies, Cape hens, skuas, gulls, terns, 

 sheathbills, ringed penguins and the gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis pa/pua). Specimens 

 were secured of the last two named birds and a young black-backed gull. In the 



