it as a winter reserve for
their charges.

It may be mentioned that sea elephants are sub-antarctic in
distribution, and only rarely have these animals been observed on the
shores of the Antarctic continent. As far as I am aware, the only other
occasion of such an occurrence was noted by Captain Scott in MacMurdo
Sound. Wilkes reported many of them on the pack-ice to the north of the
Balleny Islands, so possibly they have a stronghold in that vicinity.

The dogs, ever since their arrival ashore, had been chained up on the
rocks below the Hut. The continuous wind worried them a good deal,
but they had a substantial offset to the cold in a plentiful supply of
seal-meat. On the whole, they were in a much better condition then when
they left the 'Aurora'. Nineteen in all, they had an odd assemblage
of names, which seemed to grow into them until nothing else was so
suitable: Basilisk, Betli, Caruso, Castor, Franklin, Fusilier, Gadget,
George, Ginger, Ginger Bitch, Grandmother, Haldane, Jappy, John Bull,
Johnson, Mary, Pavlova, Scott and Shackleton. Grandmother would have
been better known as Grandfather. He was said to have a grandmotherly
appearance; that is why he received the former name. The head dog was
Basilisk, and next to him came Shackleton.

Early in February, after having experienced nothing but a succession
of gales for nearly a month, I was driven to conclude that the average
local weather must be much more windy than in any other part of
Antarctica. The conditions were not at all favourable for sledging,
which I had hoped to commence as soon as the Hut was completed. Now that
the time had arrived and the weather was still adverse, it seemed clear
that our first duty was to see everything snug for the winter before
making an attempt.

Hannam, assisted by Bickerton, Madigan and others, had laid heavy and
firm foundations for the petrol-motor and generator. The floor of the
smaller room was then built around these bed-plates, and last of
all came the walls and roof. Murphy, Bage and Hodgeman were chiefly
responsible for the last-named, which was practically completed by
February 10. Minor additions and modifications were added after that
date. Meanwhile, Hannam continued to unpack and mount the instruments
forming the wireless plants. Along one wall and portion of another, in
the outer hut, a bench was built for mechanical work and for scientific
purposes. This was in future to be the work-room.

Our home ha