16 EDWAED A. WILSON. 



sea-ice, however, was breaking up and we were unable to follow their tracks to find out 

 where they had come from. On April 12th, four days later, we again saw a party of 

 five, and on the 13th seven more ; on the 19th a single one, and on the 6th of May two 

 others. These were the last for the season, and no doubt by this time, so close to mid- 

 winter, they had collected together at their various rookeries to commence the duties of 

 mating and incubation. 



The next that were seen in McMurdo Sound were wandering on the ice not far from 

 open water in the spring. Here one might find them about the middle of September in 

 small companies, and in the best of plumage and condition. They seemed then rather to 

 prefer our company than otherwise ; and a party of fifteen on one occasion followed us 

 for some distance. Always full of curiosity, they would stand round in a group 

 making comments to one another on our appearance. They had no objection to being 

 photographed, but resented being stroked. Such a group formed an exceedingly 

 beautiful picture ; their lemon-yellow breasts shone like satin in the sun, and their 

 bluish backs and jet-black heads set off the golden yellow patch on the side of the neck, 

 and the rose or lilac streak on the lower bill. The back and breast, if the bird had 

 just been in the water, would glitter with crystals of ice and salt. No doubt the 

 brilliance of such a picture was much enhanced by the fact that we were just emerging 

 from the darkness of a polar winter, during which we had seen no sun for seventeen 

 weeks. But still, such is their size and colouring that they would form a striking 

 feature anywhere. 



We saw again on September 29th a party of forty-six Emperors, and two 

 parties of eight and twenty on the following day, and so on through the early 

 summer months. How, in the light of ascertained facts, these birds came to be 

 wandering in the spring, when they should have been at the breeding colonies, one 

 cannot understand. Perhaps, having lost their own young, or having produced no 

 eggs, they got sick of waiting about on the off-chance of nursing the young of another 

 bird, and began to wander for want of better occupation. There were both males and 

 females in these companies, as we found by taking samples from their number. Some- 

 times we chose out the largest and the smallest ; the latter has proved to be a female, 

 the former a male, though it is certain that size is no criterion in distinguishing 

 the sexes, for the record individual of 90 Ibs. weight was a female. 



The average weight of thirty-three of these birds, all of which were adults and in 

 full plumage, taken in November, was 70^ Ibs. Only one was below 60 Ibs., scaling 

 58^ Ibs. Fourteen came between 60 and 70 Ibs., fourteen between 70 and 80 Ibs., 

 three weighed respectively 80, 80, and 87 Ibs., and one scaled the record weight of 

 90 Ibs. These measurements were kindly taken for me by Lieuts. Royds and Skeltou. 



Their method of progression varies much with the necessity for speed. When left 

 to themselves the birds invariably walk bolt upright with great dignity (see fig. 12, p. 18) ; 

 but if alarmed in any way immediately drop down on to the breast and toboggan rapidly 

 along by alternating strokes of their powerful legs and wings. If overtaken in their 



