BIOLOGY 



The crabeater can move much faster on ice or land 

 than the Weddell. When not frightened it progresses 

 in the same way as the Weddell,' arching the back in 

 caterpillar fashion very rapidly. When alarmed and 

 excited it goes along for a short time in another manner, 

 sweeping the tail end from side to side, much as a fish 

 swims and actually gets forward a little in this way. A 

 crabeater is able to hold its own against one dog, though 

 it might be overcome by several. A fight between one 

 and the dog Erebus lasted for an hour, if it could be 

 called a fight where they never came to close quarters. 

 The lighter dog circled about, snapping at the seal's neck 

 and flippers. The crabeater always turned smartly enough 

 to be ready for him and frequently made a feint of moving 

 in one direction, then made a sudden turn and snap, 

 drawing his head close down to his shoulders and shooting 

 it out as he snapped, just as the sea-leopard is said to do. 

 It was much more fatiguing for the heavy seal than for 

 the dog, and it breathed heavily, making a continuous 

 sound with its nostrils like snoring, but at the end of the 

 hour it was still able to take care of itself. It became 

 very angry as the dog's attack continued, whereas the 

 Weddell after any amount of baiting only seems more 

 and more astonished. 



The Dogs 



Our dogs, though of an originally Siberian strain, were 

 reared in the mild climate of New Zealand, being the 

 descendants of dogs left there some generations ago by 

 a returning expedition. They were small, and showed 

 evidence of crossing with ignoble races. Yet they showed 

 no sign of degeneracy in their ability to endure the 

 unaccustomed severe climate, and on the short journeys 

 for which they were used they did splendid work. 



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