362 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



In consequence, there are comparatively very few^ clifF-breeding petrels nesting along 

 the south coasts of the islands, and then only where a turn in the coast, or an off-lying 

 islet, affords a sheltered situation. 



The reason for this circumstance must be that southerly winds are the chief snow- 

 bearing winds in the breeding season, and are more bitter than winds from the northern 

 semicircle. 



The Scotia Expedition found that laying takes place in the first two weeks of 

 December. Nests in the huge colony on the western side of Fredriksen Island were 

 visited on January 4, and were found to contain hard-set eggs. About one nest in 

 fifteen contained a newly hatched chick. The nests here were small hollows in the rocky 

 ledges of the cliff, lined with a collection of small flat plate-like pebbles from a quarter 

 of an inch to an inch in diameter. On the majority of nests only the brooding bird was 

 present, but at a few both birds were seen. Some of the nests here were only about ten 

 feet above the sea. 



The birds are usually gregarious, and were nowhere found nesting singly. The 

 colonies are scattered and individual nests may be placed some distance from the rest. 



On January 9 the nests in the Sandefjord Harbour district contained hard-set eggs 

 and chicks a day or two old in about equal numbers. These very young chicks, almost as 

 soon as hatched, were found to inherit their parents' habit of ejecting the contents of 

 their stomachs at the intruder. In this they showed even greater proficiency than the 

 adults, attaining a longer range and more precision of aim. 



The chicks are clad in dark smoky grey-brown down, which appears in some lights 

 to have a purplish tinge. There are two lighter circles, almost clear of down, round the 

 eyes, which give the chicks a peculiar spectacled appearance. 



In the Sandefjord Harbour district, the nests of the Cape Pigeons are established on 

 all the cliffs occupied by Silver-grey Petrels, and the nests of both birds are mixed on 

 the rocky ledges. The Cape Pigeon nesting grounds extend to a lower altitude than 

 those of their neighbours. Some of their nests are only about eight feet above sea-level, 

 and the lower parts of cliffs which are occupied by the two species are in general held 

 more numerously by Cape Pigeons. They have no objection to height, however, and are 

 found at any altitude on the seaward-facing cliffs. 



The Inaccessible Islands are the main stronghold of Priocella antarctico, and it might 

 be expected that Cape Pigeons would nest there also. None, however, were seen, and 

 since Cape Pigeons are almost always plentiful in the vicinity of their nesting places it is 

 improbable that they breed there. 



Snowy Petrels are also in the habit of nesting in company with Cape Pigeons and in 

 Borge Bay nests of both birds were found in close proximity. 



On January 19 the nests in the Cape Pigeon colonies near Borge Bay all contained 

 chicks, ranging from about a fortnight old to newly hatched youngsters. When the birds 

 were sitting on eggs they usually remained on the nest until lifted off, making no 

 movement beyond ejecting their stomach contents. With chicks, however, it was noticed 

 that when approached they assumed a defensive attitude, crouching with wings held 



