190 DR R. N. RUDMOSE BROWN ON 



It was noticed that the umbilical cord is severed by the young seal breaking it at 

 birth ; it is not bitten through by the mother. A number of Sheathbills (Pagodroma 

 nivea) haunt the rookeries and feed on blood and excrement, while Giant Petrels 

 ( Ossifraga gigantea) are in waiting at each birth for the delivery of the placenta. No 

 sign was noticed, though carefully watched for, of attempts on the part of these petrels 

 to attack the young seals. 



In the first week of October the young seals began to take to the water, that is, when 

 about four weeks old. The pup gingerly slides off the ice into a seal-hole and, keeping 

 near the surface, stays in the immediate vicinity of the hole ; in some cases the mother 

 gently pushes it in. In a few minutes he clambers out again, when mother and young 

 greet one another joyfully. Several days later the young seal is left to shift for 

 himself. It is only at that period, when the young are yet a little chary of the water, 

 though well able to maintain themselves in it, that motherless pups are to be found. 

 The mothers may go off for a few hours' fishing and return, but very soon they finally 

 leave their youngsters. At the end of October all the young had left their mothers. 

 The males then begin to return, and from this time onwards were frequently seen, all 

 in a fat and sleek condition, and with the slothfulness characteristic of the Weddell 

 Seal. In the end of October and in November the males and females are often seen 

 together. The period of gestation is probably eight to nine months, as far as could be 

 judged from the size of embryos taken from females killed during the first half 

 of the year. 



During the summer individuals with bad scars were more than once seen, though 

 far less frequently than in the case of Lobodons. One was seen (January 30th, 1904) 

 with a bare patch over the back of the skull about five inches in width, and with one eye 

 badly injured. Another was noticed (October 10th, 1903) in a badly scarred condition 

 and with his jaw broken. One with a bleeding sore on its flank was noticed trying to 

 force his way between two narrow ice-tongues, which might suggest that ice is a possible 

 cause of the scars. However, in all probability most of these injuries are caused by 

 fighting at the rutting season. It is quite possible that the females join in the fights ; 

 at any rate they are occasionally scarred, though less than the males. The relative 

 immunity from scars which the Weddell Seal exhibited compared with the Lobodon 

 agrees with the more peaceful, lazy nature of the former. 



It has been suggested by more than one naturalist, writing on Antarctic seals, that 

 these scars are due to attacks made on the seals by the Killer (Orca gladiator), which is 

 common in southern seas around the edge of the pack and among loose pack. While 

 the smaller scars which form the majority are probably due to fighting, the Killer quite 

 likely may be responsible for some of the larger gashes and severer injuries. There is 

 certainly no direct evidence that the Killer of the southern ocean feeds on seals, but the 

 probability is great, and is strengthened by the fact thai the southern Killer is 

 probably identical with that of Arctic seas. The Arctic Killer or Grampus certainly 

 feeds on porpoises and seals, and has been known to attack the largest whalebone 



