40 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [December 



For five hours the company has been sitting round the table 

 singing lustily; we haven't much talent, but everyone has con- 

 tributed more or less, ' and the choruses are deafening. It is 

 rather a surprising circumstance that such an unmusical party 

 should be so keen on singing. On Xmas night it was kept up 

 till I A.M., and no work is done without a chanty. I don't know 

 if you have ever heard sea chanties being sung. The merchant 

 sailors have quite a repertoire, and invariably call on it when 

 getting up anchor or hoisting sails. Often as not they are sung 

 in a flat and throaty style, but the effect when a number of men 

 break into the chorus is generally inspiriting.' 



The men had dinner at midday — much the same fare, but 

 wath beer and some whisky to drink. They seem to have en- 

 joyed themselves much. Evidently the men's deck contains a 

 very merry band. 



There are three groups of penguins roosting on the floes 

 quite close to the ship. I made the total number of birds 39. 

 We could easily capture these birds, and so it is evident that 

 food can always be obtained in the pack. 



To-night I noticed a skua gull settle on an upturned block 

 of ice at the edge of the floe on which several penguins were 

 preparing for rest. It is a fact that the latter held a noisy 

 confabulation with the skua as subject — then they advanced as 

 a body towards it; within a few paces the foremost penguin 

 halted and turned, and then the others pushed him on towards 

 the skua. One after another they jibbed at being first to ap- 

 proach their enemy, and it was only with much chattering and 

 mutual support that they gradually edged towards him. 



They couldn't reach him as he was perched on a block, but 

 when they got quite close the skua, who up to that time had 

 appeared quite unconcerned, flapped away a few yards and 

 settled close on the other side of the group of penguins. The 

 latter turned and repeated their former tactics until the skua 

 finally flapped away altogether. It really was extraordinarily 

 interesting to watch the timorous protesting movements of the 

 penguins. The frame of mind producing every action could be 

 so easily imagined and put into human sentiments. 



On the other side of the ship part of another group of 

 penguins were quarrelling for the possession of a small pressure 

 block which offered only the most insecure foothold. The 



