BIRDS OF THE SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS 



353 



Orkneys we see the same curious distribution which was observed in the South Shet- 

 lands, P. adeliae preponderating in the eastern half of the group, and P. antarctica in 

 the western half. 



The birds come ashore in early October, and egg-laying begins in the last few days 



6d 



INACCESSIBLE 



ISLANDS. 



Fig. I. Chart of the South Orkney Islands showing the positions of breeding-places, which are indicated 

 by letters under the place names. Small letters indicate that breeding birds are present, and capitals that 

 large numbers of birds (5000 or more) nest in the localities. 



A, a. Pygoscelis adeliae. 



B, b. Pygoscelis antarctica. 

 C,c. Pygoscelis papua. 



D, d. Macronectes giganteus. 



E, e. Daption capensis. 

 /. Pagodroma nivea. 



G. Priocella antarctica. 



H. Pachyptila desolata banksi. 



, i. Oceanites oceanictis. 



k. Fregetta tropica melanogaster . 



I. Catharacta skua loniibergi. 



m. Lams dominicanus . 



n. Sterna hiriindinacea. 



o. Sterna vittata georgiae. 



p. Phalacrocorax atriceps. 



r. Chionis alba. 



of the month. The staff at the Argentine Meteorological Station stated that every year 

 the date of the first eggs is nearly the same, and that there are always hundreds of eggs 

 to be gathered in the first three days of November. 



The young are hatched during the first few days of December ; but we did not arrive 

 at the islands until January i, so that the early life of the chicks was not observed. 



From January i to 2 1 , various rookeries were almost continuously under observation, 

 and the habits of the birds closely conformed with the excellent account given by Dr 

 E. A. Wilson in the report of the National Antarctic Expedition (1901-3). A point 

 which continually struck the observer, and is remarked in nearly all previous reports, 



