\\INTKR QUARTERS, SCOTIA BAY. 1.' 45 



one of which was a male. Three paddie- umn,L r -t tin- seals round Delta Island, feeding 

 mi thru c\c reineiit, and, pmliaKlv, placentae ; they approach quite close to the seals ami 

 evidentlv ilu scavenger work. Mr Hniee and I saw an alnu.M white Mack hacked gull ; 

 tin- colour <>f it- \\inu- "ii tin- upper surface was much lighter than is usually the ease 

 with these gulls. Some nellie- and a good many snowy petrels were also observed ; one 

 nf tin 1 former appran-d to be quite white. 



A party went oft'to l >( >ii>t Martin to capture a younj,' seal with its mother. Tin- 

 vi mug, pupped yesterday, was captured, but its mother, though wounded, escaped down 

 an unnoticed seal-hole, despite the determined hold Fitehie had of her tail and hind 

 Hippi-rs. One was then killed who appeared to be pregnant, but, on being cut up, no 

 young was found. It must have been one of these previously robbed and who had since 

 changed her position. It was noticed that on both occasions the first impulse of the 

 \Muuidcd seal was to make for its nearest neighbour, who at once put herself in front of 

 h.r young. The two mothers met, reared up and snarled at one another, and then 

 separated without coming to actual blows. In hoth case- this liap]K'iie<l. Snap-shots of 

 seal and young taken. The female brought in was the largest YYeddell yet taken. Length 

 1 feet 4 inches and weight 920 Ibs. (under-estimate probably). Its food, from the contents 

 of the stomach, had been cuttle-fish, fish and holothurians. Many nematodes in the gut. 



Sept. 22nd. 1 Messrs Bruce, Wilton, Pirie and Cuthbertson left this morning 

 for Cape Dundas, and will be absent some days. A small trap accompanied the 

 party. Nellies and black-backed gulls were hovering about in the vicinity of the 

 seal carcases. 



The trap in 13 fathoms off the port bow was lifted and contained six isopods, five 

 fish, two yellow star-fish and 210 cushion-stare, one of which had four perfect arms and 

 fifth arm weakly developed. 



Martin, Ross and I left in the morning for surveying in Buchan Bay. From Point 

 Martin southward along the shores of Scotia Bay mother seals with and without young 

 were very plentiful about the shore line and hummocks in Buchan Bay they were 

 particularly numerous. A few made for us if we approached but in mast cases they 

 only opened their eyes and stared at us without any alarm. No sign of them trying 

 to injure their young was noticed in any case. No young without a parent was seen, 

 which makes it improbable that during nursing the adult takes the water. None of the 

 adults, now or in any case noticed this last month, were scarred. No males seen. 



Nellies were plentiful, feasting on the blood and excrement at the scenes of birth. In 

 one case we saw six nellies sitting round a seal where the young had just been born, 

 probably waiting for the placenta. No sign of any attempt of the nellies on baby seals 

 wa- .-en. although I I'M ,k.-d can -full \ f'-r c\ id.-nce >n t hi- p- -ini . 



Two paddies were also seen in Buchan Bay feeding on excrement. Birds seen were 

 many gulls, nellies, snowies and two paddies. 



'During the absence of It. \V. Wilton with a sledge party, this log was kept by R. N. Rudmose 

 Brown until October 12th. 



