54 ZOOLOGICAL LOG OF THE SCOTIA 



several times, and ultimately sat beside the nest, not on it. A skua, who swooped 

 down to pick up the egg, was evidently recognised as an enemy under any conditions, 

 and all the birds near combined in frightening him away. 



No gentoo eggs are yet to be found at the small rookery. This rookery is now 

 preserved, and no one is allowed to kill birds or to gather eggs there. Skuas, gulls, 

 snowy petrels and nellies seen to-day. Cape pigeons at their nests at the south-west 

 corner of the North Beach. 



Ten skuas shot near the house in the evening where they come to feed on penguin 

 " crans " and other carrion. 



Nov. 6th. Skuas very common around the house. Gulls and paddies also, feeding 

 on what they could find. A large light-grey nelly was shot on The Beach. A ilock of 

 shags rlew northward about 5 A.M. All hands were at the large penguin rookery this 

 afternoon, and brought back 2140 adelia eggs, and 36 gentoo eggs. The eggs of the 

 gentoo are, on the whole, whiter and more round than those of the adelia, yet, so 

 alike are the two, that it is very difficult to distinguish them. Gentoos only lay 

 one egg in a nest. 1 Three were found in one adelia nest. Very few penguins went 

 to Uruguay Cove this morning. Mossman saw a flock of gentoos arrive at the edge of 

 the bay from -the south. On finding the bay full of ice, they gave expression to their 

 disappointment in several loud brays, and then returned. The returning party met a 

 small fiock on their way north ; both stopped for a seeming interchange of compliments, 

 and then went on their way. I saw the same thing later on, but two of the returning 

 gentoos deserted their comrades, and joined the flock moving north. 



Nov. 7th. Skuas very plentiful, both near the house and ship, as well as at the 

 rookery. Gulls, snowy petrels, paddies and terns also seen, and one nelly. 



Four specimens of the ringed penguin secured to-day ; one pair is said to have 

 taken their place on the big rookery and several others have been seen on the floe, 

 but, as yet, they have not come in any great numbers. 



The gentoo eggs are most characteristic as regards their yolk, which is a rich 

 orange-red, almost a vermilion. 



A flock of shags passed north early this morning. 



Nov. 8th. Snowy petrels and gulls about the cliffs. Cape pigeons on their nests, 

 but no eggs yet. Skuas very plentiful, two terns, and a nelly, also some paddies at the 

 rookery. Six ringed penguins on the North Beach early this morning, and one at the 

 big rookery. 



The North Beach was clear all day, but comparatively few penguins left the rookeries 

 to fish. Most of these who did pass were gentoos, who are not yet so busy with their 

 eggs as the adelias are. Gravill and I went to the small rookery in the afternoon and 

 cleared all the eggs away from the easternmost rocks of it, and also all the gentoo 

 eggs in the rookery. The gentoo eggs from the big rookery were all taken this 

 morning. At the small rookery, where the penguins have been left undisturbed for 

 1 The gentoos frequently only lay one egg, though often two, but never three. 



