MAMMALS FISH. 41 



active animal, and therefore less heavily loaded with blubber. The king- 

 penguin is said to be its favorite food, a statement which speaks well for 

 the sea-leopard's activity in the water, the penguin swimming rapidly 

 enough of course to catch the fish upon which it feeds. The leopard is 

 described as pursuing and overtaking the penguin under water, rising 

 to the surface and tossing it into the air, so as to catch it more securely, 

 crosswise, in its jaws. 



Dr. W. Peters also describes a new species of Otaria,* the Arctophoca 

 gasella, its specific name being given in honor of the sloop of war Ga- 

 zelle, which carried the German transit of Venus expedition to Ker- 

 guelen Island. And Eev. Mr. Eaton, naturalist to the English expedi- 

 tion, speaks of two " species of platyrrhine seal",t in addition to the 

 sea-elephant and sea-leopard. By our own party only four individuals 

 of the FhocidcB were seen during four months' residence on the island. 

 Two of these were thought to be sea-leopards, and two sea-elej)hants, 

 one of the latter having been captured and preserved, as above stated. 

 Sealers speak of a few scattering fur-seals upon this and Heard's 

 Islands, but they have never been found in large numbers. 



Many species of whales and porpoises abound in the neighboring 

 seas. In the early days of whaling in the Indian Ocean, these islands 

 are said to have literally swarmed with whales, for which the numerous 

 inlets and bays of the archipelago furnished secure and sheltered 

 breeding-places. Even now this region is one of the best whale-fishing 

 grounds of the Antarctic Seas. 



FISH. 



(identified by prof. theo. gill.) 



Yery few fish were collected, owing to the want of boats. Several 

 attempts were made with set-lines from the shore, but without success. 

 From the deck of the Swatara, September 9, was caught, with a hand- 

 line, a fine specimen of Ghcenicthys rhinoceratus, Richardson, which has 

 been preserved. (Catalogue National Museum, No. 1G642.) 



There were also captured, at various times, under stones on the beach, 

 at low water, small specimens of NototJienia purpuriceps, Eich., and 

 Harpagifer hispinis, Eich. On the 2d January, dredging at 5 fathoms 

 from the steam-cutter of the Monongahela, I obtained two small speci- 



** Loc. cit. 



+ Annals and Magazine, October, 1875. 



