308 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



and succeeded in capturing a female. From the numerous sea- 

 elephants, and the discoloration of the water and ice, they were 

 strongly impressed with the idea of land being in the vicinity, but 

 on sounding with one hundred fathoms, no bottom was found ; 

 Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold felt convinced, from the above 

 circumstances, and the report that penguins were heard, that land 

 was near, and thought he could discern to the southeast something 

 like distant mountains. A nearer approach was impossible, as they 

 were then in actual contact with the icy barrier. 



On the 14th, at 3 p. m., the water being still discoloured, tried 

 soundings, but found no bottom. 



Two sea-elephants were seen lying motionless on the ice. On being 

 shot at, the animal would raise its head and look around for an instant, 

 and then resume its former posture. Boats were lowered, when they 

 were captured and brought on board : they proved to be the Phoca 

 proboscidea. Dr. Holmes examined their stomachs, and found nothing 

 but well-digested food. Their dimensions were as follows : 



Total length . . . . . . 10 feet, 9 inches. 



Length of posterior flipper . . . . 1 " 9 " 



Breadth 2 " 4 " 



Circumference of largest part of body . . 6 " 3 " 



This was a young female. The other was taken afterwards ; he 

 measured — 



In length ....... 8 feet, 6 inches. 



Greatest circumference behind anterior flipper . 5 " " 



Length of flippers 1 " 5 " 



Breadth " 1 " 5 " 



On the 15th the Peacock and Porpoise were in company; the 

 specimens of sea-elephants were put on board the Peacock, and after 

 having had commuiaication with each other, the vessels again sepa- 

 rated, standing on opposite tacks. 



On the 16th the three vessels were in longitude 157° 46' E., and all 

 within a short distance of each other. The water was much disco- 

 loured, and many albatrosses, Cape pigeons, and petrels were seen about 

 the ships. On board the Vincennes, we sounded with two hundred and 

 thirty fathoms, and found no bottom ; the water had the appearance 

 of an olive green colour, as if but forty and fifty fathoms deep. 



