WEDDELL, CRAB-EATER AND LEOPARD SEAL 253 



Crab-eater Seal, Lobodon carcinophagus, Jaquinot & Pucheran. 

 Three or four were seen in Larsen Harbour near the Weddell seals in November 

 1925. They were lying on the snow near the water and were sluggish in their move- 

 ments, but made for the sea when disturbed. The colour of their hair was reddish 

 white. They were not heard to utter any sound when irritated, but they vibrated their 

 jaws in the same manner as the Weddell seal. In December 1926 and January 1927 

 the skeletons of three Crab-eaters were found in Stromness Bay, one in Husvik Harbour 

 and two in Stromness Harbour. They were all near the beach and had evidently hauled 

 out and died during the previous winter. They were all adult. Though the true home 

 of this species is among the ice-pack far to the south, it will thus be seen that occasional 

 stragglers reach South Georgia, this island probably being at the northern limit of 

 its range in these regions, though further west it has been recorded from Patagonia 

 and Rio de la Plata^. 



Leopard Seal, Hydrurga leptonyx, Blain. 



The Leopard Seal is a constant inhabitant of South Georgia, and though it is never 

 found congregated in rookeries, it may be said to be common. Near the whalin-g station 

 in Grytviken it is only found in the winter, but by taking a trip on one of the sealing 

 boats one finds that odd ones are always to be seen in most of the bays and fjords. 

 It is a solitary animal at all times, even when breeding; the largest number that was 

 seen at once on a small stretch of beach was six, and in no sense could this collec- 

 tion be called a rookery as the seal were not lying close together. On the land they 

 haul out on to the beaches, but do not go up on to the tussac-covered ground behind, 

 as do the elephant seal. In moving on the land they wriggle along by arching the 

 back and pushing themselves along from the pelvic region of the body ; the fore flippers 

 are not used and are kept closely pressed to the sides of the body. If they are approached 

 while they are asleep, they wake up and menace the intruder by widely opening the 

 jaws and snapping them. If they are further irritated they make a peculiar throbbing 

 sound in the throat; this is not produced by the vocal cords, but by expelling the air 

 in short jerks through the glottis. Frequently they will make for the intruder without 

 provocation before he approaches closely, but if he steps back they will not follow 

 him. They are surprisingly nimble in their movements on land and have a peculiar 

 snake-like appearance. In spite of their ferocity when first approached, they soon get 

 scared and make for the water, voiding the contents of the bladder and rectum as 

 they go. 



In the water they are extremely graceful, being lithe and active in all their move- 

 ments. They are very inquisitive and will approach close to a boat to inspect it. If 

 they are in the neighbourhood they can be attracted to a boat by gently hammering 

 or tapping regularly on the gunwale or thwart. 



Leopard seal are to be seen in Cumberland Bay much more commonly in the winter 

 than in the summer. They come in especially when the bay is filled with ice from the 

 1 Rudmose Brown, Scottish Nat. Antarct. Exped. iv, p. 194 (1915). 



