230 ORNITHOLOGY OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



in others it is practically absent. This black apical spot cannot be regarded as a sign 

 of maturity, as some young birds have it more developed than certain adults indeed, 

 one white-chinned example has this spot more pronounced than any other specimen in 

 the collection. 



A fine albinistic male was captured on the south beach at Laurie Island on January 

 llth, 1904. The plumage of its upper surface is cream-coloured, washed with pale 

 brown on the hind-neck and crown ; the tail, wings, and under parts are white, except 

 the chin and throat, which are brown and indicate that the example is an adult ; the 

 bill and eyes were normal in colour ; and the feet pale on both surfaces. 



A series of measurements taken in the flesh, and of the weights, revealed the fact 

 that there was great diversity in the size of the adults. The males varied in total 

 length from 28 to 33'1 inches, and their wings from 7'1 to 7'7 inches ; the females from 

 27 to 30 - 8 inches, and their wings from 7 to 7 '4 inches. 



As regards weight, it would seem that by the end of the nesting-season the weight 

 of birds of both sexes had run down to a low ebb, indicating, perhaps, that they had 

 been drawing on the stores of fat laid up since the previous autumn. In April males 

 ranged from 7'25 to 10 Ibs., while in October the lightest bird scaled 11'5 Ibs. and the 

 heaviest 14'1 Ibs. Females in April ranged from 6 to 8 Ibs., and in October from 9 to 

 13 Ibs. These results were based upon a large number of specimens. 



The temperature of this species was found to be as high as 106 F. 



Pygoscelis pa/pua (Forst.). 

 Pygoscelis papua Cat. B., xxvi. p. 631. 



The Gentoo Penguin, which nears the southern limits of its range at the South Orkneys, 

 was only found in small numbers as compared with its congeners, the total number 

 at Laurie Island being estimated at 100,000 birds. It was confined to four or five 

 rookeries, in which it nested in company with P. adelite. 



This species was first met with by the Expedition at Saddle Island early in February, 

 though no mention is made of its nesting there, and later in the season it was observed 

 off Coronation Island on March 23rd. At the winter-quarters in Scotia Bay many were 

 observed departing late in March and early in April, and the last of the autumn 

 emigrants went north on April 25th. Not all of them departed, however, for a few 

 were occasionally seen during the winter months of May, June, and July. They 

 increased in numbers during the third week of August, and the spring return move- 

 ments set fairly in by September, on the 25th of which month they appeared at the 

 rookery on Cape Dunclas, while numbers arrived from the north as late as November 5th. 



On October 18th many were observed on their way from the open water to a big 

 rookery, in company with P. adelise. On reaching the shore they at once clambered 

 up on to the rocks forming the breeding-ground. Here the Gentoos occupied the 

 lower and less favourable sites, and formed a ring, as it were, round the Adelies. This 

 was, no doubt, due to the fact that many of them wandered about aimlessly for some 



