Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

esearchers. We had some difficulty with two of them, which were in the centre of
the harem, but the bull, fortunately, was amenable to persuasion. Having examined
and collected specimens, we flensed off the blubber, and turned the pieces skin-side
up, as it was evident the sealers would not be able to take the whole carcasses off the
beach. The birds should not make inroads and they could be collected by Pesca later
as requested.
As we returned we saw the boat coming at about 15.45 pm as we approached
camp. Larsen was aboard. I went up to the tent to get some specimens for Arthur to
take back and he got off quite easily through the surf; in the prevailing wave
conditions. But they decided not to go for the blubber and waved goodbye. I
returned to camp, very wet, changed and had supper early as we had had no lunch.
The morning of 10 October was not windy, but the swell was if anything higher
and the breakers very noisy. I left at 10 o’clock for the harems. There was a noticeable
increase in the number of harems, and a decrease in the size of most of the large ones.
Bulls in general were closer together. In harem 6a I saw two pups suckling from one
cow at the same time – one above the other! There was a certain amount of snow-
and shingle -flipping. In area 8 several pups were with their mothers in the water,
owing to the overcrowding on the beach. One attempted to suckle in the water,
which was 9” to 1 ft deep. On other beaches cows and pups were lying at the water’s
edge, quite wet, and I suspected that some pups must be lost this way particularly if
waves are coming in.
I returned for lunch and as I made my way westwards I saw Lille Carl coming
along close inshore. I thought she blew her siren twice, but was not sure, so
deafening was the noise of the breakers.
At 4 o’clock a cow which I was observing in harem 6a began labour
contractions and I was able to make full notes for three-quarters of an hour,
although I was shivering violently and glad to finish! When labour began the cow
lay with her neck bent at right angles and her muzzle resting on the stones, the
mouth open. Her body lifted up and down in spasmodic jerks, caused by
compression of the flanks. She raised her head for a short time, eyes closed and
the contractions continued, together with a slight rolling. The cow then rested her
head on the ground and slight jerks continued, rather like hiccups! At 4.20 pm she
began to lift her hind end and moved it from side to side. Due to pressure from
the flanks the area around the vaginal opening itself widened slightly at each
series of contractions. The hind-flippers were now raised in the air and her tail
raised during most spasms. At 4.30pm the movements became more convulsive.
She was quite silent throughout, her eyes slits. At 4.35 she moved forward a few
inches and a slight trickle of amniotic fluid and blood ran out. The foetal
membrane was visible at each jerk – extruded like a balloon, with the black fur of
the foetus visible through it. The hind flippers were crossed. At 4.40 her
movements increased in strength, each one pushing the membranes further out,
only to slip in again during the relaxed phase. Then the cow inched forwards,
facing downhill. The membrane broke and the pup’s head showed at each
contraction. The cow lifted her tail end, swung it from side to side, and inched
forward.
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