1904] SKUA GULLS 



237 



chickens but for their already formidable bill and claws, and it 

 is quite evident that they have not been hatched out more 

 than a day or two. Suddenly we saw the parent bird come 

 from the sea with a very fair-sized fish in its bill. It perched 

 on a rock and began to tear pieces from its prey and offer them 

 to its offspring ; the latter seized these tempting morsels with 

 avidity, and though they could scarcely stand they tore and 

 gobbled at the food with wonderful energy. But after a bit 

 both chicks found themselves wrestling with the same piece, 

 and for some time there was quite a tug of war until both 

 seemed to realise that this was not the way to settle such a 

 matter, and, as if by mutual consent, they dropped the cause 

 of contention and went for one another. They became perfect 

 little furies as they staggered about clawing and pecking at each 

 other. Of course they w^ere too feeble to do any harm, and 

 soon fell apart exhausted, but the struggle shows that the 

 youthful skua possesses a very full share of original sin. 



' We had a charming walk to the north side of the cape this 

 afternoon, where the sea is lapping lazily on a shelving sandy 

 beach, and where also there are several ponds with weeds and 

 confervje. How delightful it is to look on the sea once more ! 

 Yet how much more delightful it would be if one could lift 

 the ' Discovery ' up and deposit her twenty miles to the north ! 



'On our return we got amongst the penguins, much to 

 their annoyance. They swore at us in the vilest manner, and 

 their feathers and tempers remained ruffled long after we had 

 passed them. 



' Before supper we took soap and towels down to a small 

 rill of thaw-water that runs within ten yards of the tent and 

 had a delightful wash in the warm sunlight. Then we had a 

 dish of fried penguins' liver with seal kidneys ; eaten straight 

 out of the frying-pan this was simply delicious. I have come 

 to the conclusion that life in the Antarctic Regions can be very 

 pleasant.' 



^January 5. — This morning we got up in the most leisurely 

 fashion, and after a wash and our breakfast we lazily started to 

 discuss plans for the day. Our tent door was open and 



