x INTRODUCTION. 



I am greatly indebted to Mr. Jacob Cross (First Class Petty Officer, R.N.), who 

 made himself acquainted with my work, and gave up much of his spare time to 

 help in it. As a skinner of seals and penguins he had no equal on the ship, and 

 soon surpassed his teacher. 



Although the majority of the photographs used in these reports were taken, as I 

 have said, by Lieut. Skelton, I have also used photographs by other members of the 

 Expedition, and for these I express my thanks to them, while I acknowledge their 

 names in the " List of Illustrations." The coloured plates are from drawings by 

 myself, as are the other illustrations in black-and-white, with one exception, namely 

 Plate III. of the Seals, which has been reproduced from drawings by Mr. Engel Terzi. 



While acknowledging with real gratitude the time and attention that my proofs 

 have received from Captain G. E. H. Barrett Hamilton, who has looked over the Eeport 

 upon the Seals, and from Mr. Eagle Clarke and Mr. Pycraft, who have both been good 

 enough to revise the Birds, I must at the same time take full responsibility for the 

 errors and shortcomings that may be found in them. 



My sincere thanks are due to Dr. Bowdler Sharpe and Mr. Oldfield Thomas 

 for the facilities given to me while at work in their respective departments, and to 

 Mr. Jeffrey Bell, as General Editor, for much kindly help and many excellent 

 suggestions. 



EDWARD A. WILSON. 

 Westal, Cheltenham. 

 January 2nd, 1907. 



