WINTER QUARTERS, SCOTIA BAY, 1903 41 



Any. 3lst. The first haul of the dredge contained a few sea-weeds with no animals ; 

 in the second haul there were two pycnogons, a polychaete and a star-fish. Only one 

 nelly seen to-day, by the captain. The rest of us did not see any birds although I was 

 out in the morning and a party were out later securing two young Weddell seals. 



According to one of the men who was out with the party securing the two baby seals, 

 the youngest one's mother followed the sledge containing her progeny as far as she was 

 able, emitting no noise or cry, whilst the older one's mother was got rid of much more 

 easily. She escaped through a blow-hole and abandoned her young after a short 

 struggle. The youngest baby seal was killed by chloroform and preserved for its 

 skin ; and the other one was injected and embalmed according to Professor David 

 Hepburn's method, 1 which Pirie and Brown successfully carried out. 



Sept. 1st. The first haul of the dredge contained nil, the second one a cushion- 

 star and a pycnogon. Mr Bruce saw a nelly this morning, the only bird seen to-day. 

 Birds have been very scarce these last two days, probably owing to the cold weather 

 we have been experiencing. Mr Bruce, Cuthbertson and myself were out this after- 

 noon at Point Davis, near where, on the floe, we saw a Weddell seal with her young. 

 On our near approach the mother became alarmed and tried to drive us off ; she was 

 exceedingly fat and moved slowly. Seeing that her efforts were of no effect, she 

 returned to her young and began to caress it by putting her nose to the young one's 

 side, opening her mouth and barking. Satisfied that the young one was all right, she 

 lay down on her side whilst the youngster moved towards her head, where it lay 

 embracing the mother with a Hipper. After a while the youngster shifted its position 

 and moved towards the hind end of its parent. Some photographs were taken of 

 mother and young by Mr Bruce. 



Sept. 2nd. The dredge contained not even a pycnogon in either of the two hauls. 

 Only one bird seen a snowy petrel, by the captain. 



The Weddell seal with its young, which we saw yesterday off Point Davis, was 

 brought to the ship. Both were preserved for skins. 



Sept. 3rd. Both hauls of the dredge came up empty. No birds seen. The cold 

 spell we have been experiencing is probably the cause. Yesterday the mean 

 temperature was - 22 F. To-day the temperature has varied more than yesterday, in 

 the afternoon rising to 8, but at 7 P.M. it was- 20", with a strong breeze blowing since 

 noon. 



Sept. 4th. No dredge to-day, nor were any birds seen. Cold spell still 

 continuing. 



Sept. 5th. The dredge contained one yellow star-fish with a lamellil (ranch attached 

 to it. The Giesbrecht net was hauled up empty. The trap was hauled up also and 

 contained four or five fish (X<>tntln',,i'i), kept for skeletons, about 100 star-fish, all 

 cushion-stars, four or five isopods and a few burkies. A m'lly and a snowy petrel were 

 seen to-day. The weather has become quite moderate again. 



1 In accordance with a formula presented to the Expedition by Professor David Hepburn, M.D., University 

 of Wales. 



