THE SEALS OF THE WEDDELL SEA. 193 



appears to have seen only one, and that is not certain, though the Pourquoi Pas? in 

 the same region saw several. But I am inclined to think that the failure to discover 

 the breeding-places is due, in reality, to there being no large Sea-leopard rookeries. 

 This species is probably more or less solitary, even at the breeding-season, and thus 

 would largely escape notice.* 



Dr Bruce and Dr Donald brought back several foetal Sea-leopards from the expedi- 

 tion of the Balsena and the Active in 1892-93, which were given to the Zoological 

 Department of University College. Dundee. 



The only other foetal Sea-leopard known was obtained by Dr Charcot at Petermann 

 Island in March 1909, during his expedition in the Pourquoi Pas? 



The Challenger found this seal on Kerguelen in midsummer, and bones of it at 

 Heard Island. But the large herds on Kerguelen of which Moseley speaks by report 

 were probably Weddell Seals. t It is not uncommon at the Falkland Islands, and has 

 been recorded from South Georgia and Fuegia as well as from such low latitudes as 

 Tasmania, Wellington, N.Z., and the Lord Howe Islands, so that it is not confined to 

 Antarctic waters. However, the more northerly of these must be looked on as records 

 of mere stragglers from the habitual haunts. 



The Sea-leopard is the largest of all Antarctic seals, and may reach 12 to 14 feet 

 in length and weigh over 900 Ibs. In appearance it is comparatively graceful, with 

 its long slim body and its light grey coat generally touched with darker spots. Alone 

 among the seals of the Antarctic does this species threaten man, even without pro- 

 vocation. \Yith its formidable array of teeth, its powerful jaw, and its remarkable 

 agility, it is not an animal to be played with. Other species never show any resent- 

 ment to man except during the pupping season, and then only on provocation. When 

 on the floe the Sea-leopard lies characteristically on its stomach, with its head resting 

 on the ice, and rears itself on its fore-flippers and at once shows fight on the approach 

 of a man. It is usually alert, ready, and energetic in its movements, while it has not 

 the same love of lying on the ice which the lazy Weddell Seal exhibits, and seems to 

 go on to the ice principally for a rest, when out in mid-sea. The food of this seal seems 

 to consist chiefly of penguins, which it chases with great agility under the surface of 

 the water, and even catches on the ice. In one instance, in Scotia Bay, a Sea-leopard 

 was observed swimming noiselessly up to a piece of pack, near the edge of which was 

 standing a Gentoo penguin : suddenly, with a quick jump, the Sea-leopard raised himself 

 from the water, caught the penguin's leg in his jaws, and drew the bird away into the 

 sea. In one specimen the Discovery found the body of an Emperor penguin ; and 

 Dr Davidson, of the Morning, in another found the remains of a young Weddell Seal. 

 Dr Bruce found large quantities of stones in Sea-leopards' stomachs in 1892-93, which 

 were evidently from the stomachs of digested penguins. Feathers from the same 



* It is probable that the " Sea-leopards" which Mr Borchgrevinck describes as breeding in Robertson Bay, Victoria 

 Land, were really Weddell Seals (First on the Antarctic Continent, London, 1901, p. 237). 

 t Notes of a Naturalist on the " Challenger," H. N. Moseley, London, 1892, p. 174. 



VOL. IV. 2 



