SCOTIA BAY, SOUTH ORKNEYS, 1903 is 7 



three more Cape pigeons' eggs. There were six birds sitting on nests on that particular 

 ledge but only three have laid. The eggs when blown proved to be all quite fresh, but 

 those of the snowy petrel had been sat upon several days. 



Got four more skuas' eggs (two clutches of two). Their nests are on moss-covered 

 rocks about a height of 200 feet, where they fashion hollows, smoothed off with loose 

 pieces of moss. Birds sit very close, one on the nest, the other close by. Wlicn 

 approached, they scream defiance and have to be forcibly ejected from the nest : not 

 altogether a safe proceeding since the other bird wheels round dose to one's head in 

 a threatening fashion, though one never actually touched us. 



Gull's nest on nearer rocky islet now has two eggs ; dated them. Xest well built of 

 sea-weed, feathers, moss and lichens. 



Took two hauls of the dredge : the first in 2^ to 3 fathoms, bottom gravel, the 

 second in 4 to 5 fathoms, bottom gravel with clumps of weed. Surface temperature 

 29'l. First dredge : limpets, same as the shore form : lamellibrauchs of several 

 species, including dead shells ; two other species of gasteropoda, the first of which is 

 certainly a form we have not got before and probably the second also ; three small 

 isopods, all one species. Second dredge: several species of small amphipods ; 

 chaetopods, two or three species ; chitons ; small lamellibranchs, numerous spawning 

 limpets and two other gasteropoda of one species. Spawn attached to pebbles, probably 

 of some mollusc, yellowish rounded faced tetrahedra with egg inside. 



Trap in 4^ fathoms contained two fish, one cushion-star and a very few amphipods. 

 Shifted it to 6 fathoms on a bottom of gravel with abundant weed clumps. 



Dec. -ith. Was at a big rookery at north-west end of Laurie Island beside Xigg 

 Rock ; entirely occupied by ringed penguins, some with two eggs, but the majority 

 with one and some with none, so evidently they have only just commenced laying. 

 Coming back along the west side of Jessie Bay I got about two dozen Cape pigeons' 

 eggs and 18 snowy petrels'. Some Cape pigeons have not laid yet but all snowies 

 seem to have done so. Got ten of the latter' s eggs in one cave, about 35 feet above 

 sea level, in holes in the dung-covered floor. These nests, unlike all others, were made 

 either of pieces of dung or with feathers. Some were right at the back of cave, which 

 was about 40 feet long and almost dark. Temperature in cave 35 J . Got four more 

 in a similar but smaller cave. 



All other usual birds seen about and no unusual ones. \\Yddell seals observed. 



Dec: 5th. Took two dredgings in Uruguay Cove. Temperature of surface between 

 29 and 30. First dredge 2 to 8 fathoms, bottom gravel with clumps of weed- 

 contained small crustaceans ; limpets, one lamellibranch and several other small gastero- 

 pods ; a few pycnogons ; several small worms, one like the common large nemertean, 

 and one small chaetopod. Second dredge 5 to 15 fathoms, gravel and mud, mainly 

 the latter contained a considerable number of pycnogons, two cushion-stars, several 

 small isopods, several amphipods, and some limpets. 



Got about 50 Cape pigeons' eggs on the east side of Uruguay Cove where that bay 



