User:Yomangani/The Courteous Identification of the Dogs in the Ice Clime

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Main base

Image Name Main colour(s) likely in photos Description Notes
Basilisk
 Basilisk. Black and white Black with white chest. Right fore three quarters white. Left fore half white. Back paws maybe white. Some white on muzzle(lips)? White line up neck. Lots of photos
Ginger bitch (left) with Basilisk(right)
 Ginger bitch Black Ginger (a lot of help in B&W). Looks mostly black especially on right side of head. Light small patch on upper chest? Possibly notched right ear Likely to be in pictures with Basilisk
Ginger (left) with Basilisk(right)
 Ginger Black and white Ginger (a lot of help in B&W). Big. White chest. Right fore white (4/5ths on outside, joining to chest on inside) Left fore white (one third on outside, joining to chest on inside). Rear paws white.
Blizzard as a pup
 Blizzard Black and white White with black paws(?) Black face. White muzzle.
Castor White White with light brown eyes and muzzle; big, with a sharp face.
Jack Johnson White Small and white. Scarred and lacking hair
John Bull Black and white Black. White chest. Medium-sized and stocky
Betli White and black White. Multi-coloured face. Black spot on the side of her mouth. Medium-sized. Tail skimpy
Shackleton Black and white Black. Patch of white on his chest; "handsomest dog in the pack"
Franklin Black and white Black except for a patch of white on his chest; gloomy Friend of Scott so liable to be in photos with him
Scott White and black White with a black face Friend of Franklin so liable to be in photos with him
Grandmother Off black Dark brown with short coat
Gadget Off black Small, mousy
Fusilier Black Dark brown. Short coat. Broad chest and muscly legs Friend of Caruso so likely to be in photos with him (if early)
Caruso Black Dark brown. Thin. Sharp face. Mangy looking. Friend of Fusilier so likely to be in photos with him
George White and black Small. White with black face. A black spot on his rump. Friend of Mary so likely to be in photos with her
Mary White and black Small. White with black face. Friend ofGeorge so likely to be in photos with him
Haldane Grey Grey. Wolfish. Friend of Castor so likely to be in photos with him
Pavlova Black and white Black with a white chest; considered the most attractive of the bitches Friend of Fusilier so likely to be in photos with him
  • Probable: Ginger centre standing, Ginger Bitch on ground at centre, Basilisk right. From description as only white dog: next to GB: Castor (Johnson is also described as white but also as small, scarred and lacking hair). Dog to far left: most likely to be (in my guess order) Pavlova, Shackleton, Franklin or John Bull
    Probable: Ginger centre standing, Ginger Bitch on ground at centre, Basilisk right. From description as only white dog: next to GB: Castor (Johnson is also described as white but also as small, scarred and lacking hair). Dog to far left: most likely to be (in my guess order) Pavlova, Shackleton, Franklin or John Bull
  • Probably second season dogs. Possibly D'Urville at back in centre with light flashes over his eyes. Cf. Mawson's wedding picture (which I haven't uploaded yet as the quality is abysmal).
    Probably second season dogs. Possibly D'Urville at back in centre with light flashes over his eyes. Cf. Mawson's wedding picture (which I haven't uploaded yet as the quality is abysmal).
  • Left to right: unknown (Mary, Scott or George), unknown (Pavlova, Shackleton, Franklin or John Bull), Ginger Bitch, Basilisk
    Left to right: unknown (Mary, Scott or George), unknown (Pavlova, Shackleton, Franklin or John Bull), Ginger Bitch, Basilisk
  • These are all first season dogs as this was taken by Mertz
    These are all first season dogs as this was taken by Mertz
  • These are all first season dogs as this was taken by Mertz
    These are all first season dogs as this was taken by Mertz
  • Must be at main base as there are too many dogs in the back ground for it to be at the western base, but which season it is: unknown
    Must be at main base as there are too many dogs in the back ground for it to be at the western base, but which season it is: unknown

The pups

  • Ross is behind (all black with black eyes), D'Urville in front
    Ross is behind (all black with black eyes), D'Urville in front
  • If they are Ross and D'Urville, then Ross behind, D'Urville in front
    If they are Ross and D'Urville, then Ross behind, D'Urville in front
  • Best guess (from l to r, ignoring the other ones that you can't see the faces of): Wilkes (big and white), D'Urville, Ross.
    Best guess (from l to r, ignoring the other ones that you can't see the faces of): Wilkes (big and white), D'Urville, Ross.

Very interesting photo

  • Probably second season dogs. Possibly D'Urville at back in centre with light flashes over his eyes. Cf. Mawson's wedding picture
    Probably second season dogs. Possibly D'Urville at back in centre with light flashes over his eyes. Cf. Mawson's wedding picture
  • D'Urville at Mawson's wedding
    D'Urville at Mawson's wedding

If these are the second season dogs then it is probably all the second season dogs as there are 13 in the picture. (No Hoyle as he would have been too young). Compare the descriptions from 1st and 2nd seasons to see if they can be ruled in or out by the number of each colouring. Photo is taken by Mawson and he records taking photos of the second season dogs at lunch (not to say he didn't take any in the first season but he does seem to have left the photo taking to others until 1913)

Western base

  • All 9 of WB here. Probably Zip seated in front of first man, Switzerland to his left, Amundsen by second man. Sandow left of post. Sweep facing other way behind second man. Tich furthest back then Tiger. Crippen at the front and Nansen behind him?
    All 9 of WB here. Probably Zip seated in front of first man, Switzerland to his left, Amundsen by second man. Sandow left of post. Sweep facing other way behind second man. Tich furthest back then Tiger. Crippen at the front and Nansen behind him?
  • As these are the only dogs left at WB by this time and from the descriptions: Zip, Amundsen (lower down) and Switzerland
    As these are the only dogs left at WB by this time and from the descriptions: Zip, Amundsen (lower down) and Switzerland

Amundsen or Switzerland

The black and white dog in all these is Zip.

  • This is Amundsen lower and Switz (with the black spot on his back) higher
    This is Amundsen lower and Switz (with the black spot on his back) higher
  • This is Amundsen closer and Switz behind
    This is Amundsen closer and Switz behind
  • This is (I think) Amundsen facing away, Switz slightly behind facing forwards
    This is (I think) Amundsen facing away, Switz slightly behind facing forwards
  • Amundsen at the front of the team, Switz at the back (Black spot)
    Amundsen at the front of the team, Switz at the back (Black spot)
  • Can only be Amundsen, Switz or Sweep. Sweep is described as all white, small, hairy, unclean looking which I don't think fits. Amundsen from the colouring and same ear position as the "backs to the wind" picture.
    Can only be Amundsen, Switz or Sweep. Sweep is described as all white, small, hairy, unclean looking which I don't think fits. Amundsen from the colouring and same ear position as the "backs to the wind" picture.

Probably Zip

Zip has a ridiculous amount of photos and here are some more:

  • Black and white dogs at WB: Zip, Sandow, and Tiger. It's not Sandow
    Black and white dogs at WB: Zip, Sandow, and Tiger. It's not Sandow
  • Tiger described as short and stout. Markings look like Zip, looks like it's a boy dog.
    Tiger described as short and stout. Markings look like Zip, looks like it's a boy dog.

Zip again

  • Taken by Moyes so at WB. Guess who is hogging the limelight again?
    Taken by Moyes so at WB. Guess who is hogging the limelight again?

Possibly Tiger or Tich, Possibly Nansen

  • Dog at the top is possibly Tiger though colouring doesn't seem to match with the 9 dogs tethered out photo: black and white dogs at WB: Zip (Wrong face markings and it looks like he is down the bottom next to Moyes? with his face in the snow), Sandow (has black down most of his right fore, so not him) and Tiger. Tich is described as "all black" but in the 9 dogs picture it looks like at least her muzzle has some white on it. The other problem with is photo is there are two many dark dogs - presumably they are just filthy.
    Dog at the top is possibly Tiger though colouring doesn't seem to match with the 9 dogs tethered out photo: black and white dogs at WB: Zip (Wrong face markings and it looks like he is down the bottom next to Moyes? with his face in the snow), Sandow (has black down most of his right fore, so not him) and Tiger. Tich is described as "all black" but in the 9 dogs picture it looks like at least her muzzle has some white on it. The other problem with is photo is there are two many dark dogs - presumably they are just filthy.
  • Titled: "Preparing to send the dogs to the top of the Shackleton Shelf by means of the flying-fox" it is actually taken after the "Hauling the dogs up the flying-fox at The Grottoes (see footprints in the snow and less dogs). If the identification from the nine tethered out is correct, then the dog being hauled up is probably Nansen (it's probably the second dog from the front in that pic as it is the only one with matching markings)
    Titled: "Preparing to send the dogs to the top of the Shackleton Shelf by means of the flying-fox" it is actually taken after the "Hauling the dogs up the flying-fox at The Grottoes (see footprints in the snow and less dogs). If the identification from the nine tethered out is correct, then the dog being hauled up is probably Nansen (it's probably the second dog from the front in that pic as it is the only one with matching markings)

The Amundsen/Amundsen/Colonel debate

  • Hurley calls this dog "Colonel" in his book "Argonauts of the South" published 1925
    Hurley calls this dog "Colonel" in his book "Argonauts of the South" published 1925
  • Catalogued with the title "The sledge dog, Amundsen
    Catalogued with the title "The sledge dog, Amundsen
  • Full picture
    Full picture
  • "Sledge dog in harness" Same dog taken from other side. Adjusted for looking from the other side: position in rocks identical; tether line identical. Markings not overly distinctive but identical (slight fringing on ears, faint line between ears, lighter muzzle starting from corner of eyes and going into cheeks). Muzzle, ears, eyes identical. Tether clip identical in appearance, orientation and position.
    "Sledge dog in harness" Same dog taken from other side. Adjusted for looking from the other side: position in rocks identical; tether line identical. Markings not overly distinctive but identical (slight fringing on ears, faint line between ears, lighter muzzle starting from corner of eyes and going into cheeks). Muzzle, ears, eyes identical. Tether clip identical in appearance, orientation and position.
  • Slim, perhaps "yellow-gray", wolfish-looking; but "the prettiest of the second-year dogs"? Different dog to the other pictures. Colouring different (although this could be dirt or water) Muzzle profile looks different. Sleeker transition from nose to muzzle. Nothing to say this isn't one of the first season dogs either. Definitely at main base though.
    Slim, perhaps "yellow-gray", wolfish-looking; but "the prettiest of the second-year dogs"? Different dog to the other pictures. Colouring different (although this could be dirt or water) Muzzle profile looks different. Sleeker transition from nose to muzzle. Nothing to say this isn't one of the first season dogs either. Definitely at main base though.

Hurley could have taken a picture of Colonel or Amundsen at main base when Aurora arrived or when he returned to pick up the 1913 season party. The catalogue title apparently came from Mawson's titles on the pictures. Amundsen described as "Slim, yellow-gray, wolfish-looking; perhaps the prettiest of the second-year dogs", Colonel as "White, wooly-haired, and biggest of Amundsen dogs". Amundsen was given to Madigan's sister Mollie and is recorded as dying in 1920, so there may be more records or photos of him.

Hurley could also have taken a picture of the other Amundsen at the western base when he went with Aurora to relieve them, but the dog is pictured on rocks and another blurry dark dog is just visible in the background so this is unlikely as there were no rocks around WB and no dark dogs were still alive when Hurley arrived. The "Sledge dog in harness" photo is taken from a different angle and shows another dark dog in the background, so it is impossible to be the Amundsen from the western base.

Hurley is probably more trustworthy on the identification as Mawson would be looking at the picture among hundreds months later.

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