THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GEORGIA 573 



up the Stomach contents and then fly away. If they are approached on the land and 

 cornered when they are feeding or on their nests, they defend themselves by shooting 

 the contents of the stomach at the intruder. This is accompanied by a high-pitched 

 straining sound, and the head is shaken from side to side at each shot. The young birds 

 in the nest are more skilful at hitting the cause of their annoyance than are the old ones. 

 If seized these birds bite severely. The species has a strong musky odour which scents 

 the eggs and nests. In addition the vomited stomach contents have a most disgusting 

 smell, so that it well deserves its common name of "Stinker". The ordinary voice is 

 a low hoarse croak, but as stated above the note goes up to a falsetto when the bird 

 is annoyed. If a bird passes close to an observer when it is flying it can often be heard 

 to be making a low creaking noise at each stroke of the wings. This is uttered without 

 opening the bill. 



The natural food of this species at South Georgia is largely augmented by the scraps 

 from the whaling stations round which it congregates in immense numbers. The birds 

 also attack the dead whales that are waiting to be cut up, climbing out on to their backs 

 as they lie in the water and digging into the blubber with their powerful bills. During 

 the winter, when whaling is suspended, large numbers die of starvation. A large 

 number were seen at Undine Harbour in November, 1925, feeding on a carcass of a 

 seal. In the hide there was only a small hole through which one bird at a time could 

 just force its head. They were doing this in turn, pushing in as far as possible until 

 stopped by the shoulders, and all had the head and neck stained bright red by the 

 blood. At the nesting season they also feed on young penguins. Nestlings have been 

 examined whose stomachs were crammed with the "krill" on which the penguins 

 had been feeding. With this were mixed pieces of the intestines of the penguins. The 

 stomach of an adult examined during the winter contained a little brown fluid and a 

 few blades of tussac. 



Majaqueus aequinoctialis, Linn. 

 Cape Hen 



(Plate XLV, figs. 5, 6) 



The Cape Hen, called "Shoemaker" by the whalers, is common at sea off South 

 Georgia all the year round, and may sometimes be seen in large flocks. Ashore it breeds 

 in large numbers, but is rarely seen on land as it nests in burrows and is nocturnal. 



In early October this species commences nesting, the burrows of previous seasons 

 being used, as well as fresh ones which are dug as soon as the ground thaws. Many 

 burrows are dug close to each other, forming a rookery like a rabbit warren. They 

 are always on raised ground, usually at the top of a cliff or steep bank. Before the eggs 

 are laid the birds sit about in pairs among the tussac at the entrances of the burrows, 

 uttering a shrill chattering cry. This cry is also made in the day-time when they are 

 below ground, especially if one walks about over the burrows. The burrows are made 

 among the tussac, the entrance usually being under a clump of the grass, which partly 



