188 MR ROBERT B. THOMSON: SCOTTISH NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION: 



parison. Unfortunately, it is not a complete skeleton : both fore-limbs with the 

 exception of one scapula, both hind-feet, one dorsal vertebra, and two pieces of sternum 

 are a wanting. A description of the skull was made by Dr J. E. Grey in 1844. For 

 over fifty years it remained the sole representative of its race in natural history 

 collections, as not till 1899 was the Eoss seal again captured by the Belgian Expedi- 

 tion (1898-9). Since then numerous specimens have been obtained and the skins 

 and crania brought home by the Southern Cross (1898-1900), Discovery (1901-4), 

 Morning (1902-4) ; while the Scotia captured two specimens — a male and a female, of 

 which the male skeleton is complete with the exception of two segments of the sternum 

 and one patella. The female skull has been unfortunately damaged, the occipital 

 region being wanting ; but a perfect set of teeth, of so much importance in Ommatophoca, 

 is preserved. Further, the whole respiratory apparatus of the male Ross seal has been 

 brought home, and is of great interest — as the voice of this animal, which has been 

 described by Dr Racovitza, with the peculiar inflation of the pharynx, has attracted 

 the notice of, and been recorded by, most Antarctic explorers. 



The method of describing the skeletons is that adopted by Sir William Turner 

 in Challenger Reports, and I wish to express my appreciation of its arrangement and 



carefulness. 



Surface Measuremenis {from Log-Book). 



No. 2. No. 43. 



Date of Capture— 6th February 1903. 28th February 1904. 



Sex — Female. Male. 



Age — Adult. Adult. 

 Length — 



Nose to tip of tail, 90". 89-5". 

 Girth— 



Anterior or neck, 41". 38 - 5". 



Axillary, 52". 55"5". 



Greatest (9 ins. behind axillary), 54". (12 ins. behind axillary), 56*5". 

 Tail, 5". 

 Fore nippers — 



Outer edge, 16". 17-2". 



Base, 8£". 

 Hind nipper — 



Outer edge, 16". 18-4". 



Inner edge, 14£". 18 -7". 



Stretch, 25". 24". 



Base, 107". 11". 



Eye, l£"xl". 1-4" x 8". 



Interorbital space, 6". 6"5". 



Total weight, 450-500 lbs. 400 lbs. 



Remarks. 



Intestines of No. 43 measured from pyloric end of stomach to anus 268". Cuttlefish 

 beaks, pieces of cuttlefish, and what appeared to be scales of fish were found in the 

 stomach. A great quantity of tape-worms were present in the gut. 



