256 ORNITHOLOGY OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



(Prion banksi), Wilson's Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), Cape Petrel (Daption capensis), 

 Giant Petrel (Ossifraga gigantea), Silver Petrel (Priocella glacialoides), Snowy Petrel 

 (Pagodroma nivea), Button's Sooty Albatros (Phcebetria cornicoidcs], Ringed Penguin 

 (Pygoscelis antarctica}, Sheathbill (Chionis alba], and several " Molliemauks." 



From noon on the 15th of February until the 18th, when the Antarctic Circle was 

 crossed, the Scotia had a fine run southwards in a sea clear of pack-ice. On the 19th, 

 however, the edge of the pack was again encountered, and an E.S.E. course was 

 steered until the 22nd, when, in 70 25' S. lat. and 17 12' W. long., or a little short 

 of Ross's furthest south in this region, the ship became firmly beset. Later in the day, 

 however, the Scotia managed to free herself, but, the temperature having fallen to 13 F., 

 it was resolved to retreat to the South Orkneys in search of winter-quarters. 



The birds observed between the Sandwich group and the Antarctic Circle were 

 Wilson's Petrels, "Blue Petrels" (? Prion or Halobasna *), Giant Petrels, Hutton's 

 Sooty Albatroses, Cape Petrels, Snowy Petrels, Silver Petrels, Antarctic Skuas (Mega- 

 lextris antarctica), Antarctic Petrels (Thalassceca antarctica), and Terns (Sterna sp. ). 



Between the Antarctic Circle and the furthest south (lat. 70 25' S. , long. 1 7 1 2' W. ), 

 the same species came under notice, with the addition of Emperor and Adelie Penguins 

 (Aptenodytes forsteri and Pygoscelis adeliie). 



On the return voyage a north-easterly course was steered, the Antarctic Circle was 

 recrossed on March the llth, and the first southern voyage of the Scotia was completed 

 on the 21st, on which day she reached the South Orkneys. 



The only bird worthy of note obtained during the final stages of this cruise was a 

 McCormick's Skua (Megalestris maccormicki). 



Having spent the winter of 1903 at Laurie Island, the Scotia proceeded to the. 

 Falklands and Buenos Aires to refit, and returned to the South Orkneys on February 

 14th, 1904. On the 22nd, the Expedition bade adieu to the Orkneys, and the Scotia 

 commenced her second and most important voyage to the Weddell Sea. In contrast 

 to the preceding season, the sea was almost free from pack-ice and a south-easterly 

 course was possible. At the beginning of March the old track of the previous year was 

 crossed, and a few days afterwards the Scotia broke her southern record of 1903, and 

 that of Ross in 1843. Skirting, more or less, the open pack for 300 miles, the ship 

 met with no obstacle to her progress southward, whereas in 1903 all had been im- 

 penetrable ice. On reaching 72 18' S., 17 59' W., however, a lofty ice-barrier 

 effectually barred further progress towards the south, and here Coats Laud was 

 discovered. This barrier was traced for a distance of 150 miles to the south-west, 

 when, on the 7th of March, the ship was caught in a north-easterly blizzard and became 

 locked in heavy pack-ice. On the gale abating two clays later, it was found that the 

 Scotia had been driven into a bight in the ice-barrier off Coats Land in 74 1' S., 

 22 0' W. No open water was in sight, and with the temperature down to zero the pack 



* Both Prion banksi and Halobcenu casrulea appear under the name of "Blue Petrels" in the Zoological Log, 

 and when specimens were not obtained it is impossible to say which species is intended. 



