THE SEALS OF THE WEDDELL SEA. 197 



Mr Mossman, on board the Urii</ticii/ (1905), saw a Ross Seal at the South Shctlands in 

 Pendulum Cove, Deception Island. 



Of the breeding-habits of this seal nothing whatever is known, but in all probability 

 the young are born on the pack and not near land. From the rarity of the species 

 it is almost certain that they do not collect in rookeries at that season. 



Their movements in winter are equally mysterious, for they seem to leave the ice- 

 bound region at that season. Presumably they migrate to the edge of the pack, but 

 there is no record of a Ross Seal having been seen on any subantarctic island. 



The Ross Seal feeds principally on cuttle-fish, but remains of fish and Euphausia 

 were found in their stomachs. A large cephalopod, over G feet in length, was captured 

 in Scotia Bay in 1904 at the Argentine Meteorological Station, which from its beak 

 appeared to be of the same species as that on which the Ross Seal feeds. 



The colour of this seal is a dark grey with lighter stripes or elongated spots, ohiellv 

 on its sides, while its ventral surface is of a uniformly lighter tint, sometimes almost 

 white. Several peculiarities distinguish it in a striking way from other Antarctic seals. 

 It is probably the most shapeless of them all ; as M. Racovitza says, " the form of 

 the quadruped has almost disappeared." The enlarged sixe of the fore-flippers is 

 very noticeable, but the most remarkable feature of all is the thick neck due to a 

 great development of the larynx. This gives the animal an extraordinary appearance. 

 Furthermore, this seal is generally very fat, and the head is much dwarfed by folds 

 of fat about the neck. The distended larynx acts as a resonator, and hence the 

 explanation of the curious loud cry, which is quite characteristic and unmistakable. 



Both on ice and in the water the Ross Seal is far more agile than the \Vecldell, and 

 can be alert and active when the occasion demands it ; but, unconscious of danger, they 

 allow one to approach near without showing signs of fear. The agility of this seal may 

 account for its feeding habitually on cuttle-fish, in contrast to the slow, deliberate 

 Weddell, which has to be content with less active prey. Moreover, its quickness in the 

 water may be an adaptation to a pelagic mode of life which it seems to follow. Large 

 scars are seldom seen on the coat of this seal, and Dr Trouessart attributes this to the 

 greater agility of the Ross Seal, which enables it to escape the attacks of the Orca, to 

 which he ascribes such wounds. Certainly the Ross Seal is a very powerful swimmer, 

 but in view of the small number seen it is difficult to generalise regarding the scars. 

 In any case, the small scars which this seal occasionally hears are quite in keeping with 

 its feeble dentition, and would point to battles over females being the real cause. 



The Ross Seal attains a maximum length of about 8 feet 6 inches ; we measured 

 none larger than this, and found most of them somewhat shorter. But Mr Bernacchi, 

 on the Southern Cross expedition, speaks of one nearly 1 1 feet. The SmttK secured 

 two skins and one complete skeleton. The temperature in one case was 9G'2 F. ; in 

 another case Serior Valette recorded 98'G. 



