ON THE BIRDS OF THE SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS. 223 



doubt due to analogous climatic and other conditions influencing both animal and 

 vegetable life. As regards their bird-life, the two groups are practically identical, the 

 Orkneys only claiming one nesting species which does not occur in the Shetlands, 

 namely, the petrel Fregetta melanogaster ; while I am not aware that the latter group 

 possesses a single native species not found in the Orkneys. 



When, however, we come to extend our ornithic survey to the nearest northern 

 land, South Georgia Island, the result is entirely different. Here we find that while 

 there are 9* native birds common to both, South Georgia has at least 12 t which do 

 not breed in the Orkneys, while the latter isles can only claim 3 which do not summer in 

 Georgia, namely Pygoscelis adeliie, Phalacrocorax atriceps, and Sterna hinmdinacea. 

 When we examine and compare the climatic conditions prevailing at these two stations 

 we have the key to these marked differences. In South Georgia, though only six 

 degrees north of the South Orkneys, the mean summer temperature, Mr Mossman 

 informs me, is 8'8 higher, while autumn, winter, and spring are respectively 11 0- G, 

 15'9, and 107 warmer. At South Georgia the lowest temperature recorded was 9'9 

 above zero, while at the South Orkneys 40 below zero has been registered. In South 

 Georgia no less than 15 species of flowering plants (phanerogams) are known : in the 

 South Orkneys not one. 



Extending our survey in like manner to the far south, and comparing the avifauna 

 of the South Orkneys with that of the Antarctic Continent, we find that the latter has 

 only 3 native birds not summering in the Orkneys, namely, the stately Aptenodytes 

 forsteri, Megalestris maccormicki, and Sterna macrura antistropha Reichenow. The 

 birds common to both are also 3 Pygoscelis adelise, Oceanites oceanicus, ami 

 ThalassoRca antarctica. 



The final instalment of the ornithological results of the Scottish National Antarctic 

 Expedition will be devoted to the birds of the Weddell Sea, southwards of the South 

 Orkneys, and Coats Land. 



Pygoscelis antarctica (Forst.). 

 Pygoscelis antarctica Cat. B., xxvi. p. 634. 



The Ringed Penguin is an uncommon bird in collections, and has hitherto been 

 regarded as not an abundant species anywhere within the somewhat limited area 

 in which it occurs ; while its phases of plumage were little known except in the 

 adult state. 



Now, thanks to the work of the Scottish Expedition, we know that the species 

 is extremely abundant at the South Orkneys ; while the collections brought home 



* These are Pygoscelis antarctica and P. papua, Fregretta melanogaster, Pagodroma nivea, Ossifraga gigantea, 

 capemis, Larus dominicanits, Mfijnlrstris untarclica, and Chionis alba. 



t Aptenodytfs patagonica, Gatatrhactts chrysolophus (possibly a breeder at the South Orkneys), Pekcanoides exsul, 

 Garrodia nereis, Majaqueus cfquinoctialis, Prion desolntus, Diomedea exulans, 1'luebetria /!<//</' ".<", .sV^r//" riltntn yeorgi<f, 

 " Phalacrocorax carunculatim (tin. (/'. alhiventir Less.)," Querquedula eatoni, and Anthux untarcticut. 



