56 ZOOLOGICAL LOG OF THE SCOTIA 



vent continually to their " kaa-kaa." Cape pigeons have not yet laid. A dark stormy 

 petrel was seen to-day both near the ship and up the glacier. It was very like Wilson's 

 petrel (Oceanites oceanicus). 



Wilton and Macdougall, who came in from the camp ' to fetch a few things, brought 

 stories of countless shags' eggs, of huge nellies' eggs, and of Cape pigeons nesting 

 in legion. 



Nov. 12th. North-westerly wind and driving snow. No penguins observed on the 

 floe, but numbers could be seen from aloft going to the open water to the south, which 

 is gradually getting nearer. Skuas more numerous than ever. Many of them, when 

 sitting around their carrion feast, indulge in a curious habit ; they open their wings 

 backward to their full extent until they touch at the tips but make no attempt to fly ; 

 for some seconds they keep them in this position giving vent at same time to their 

 shrill cry of " keh-keh ! " They then lower them and continue their meal. At times 

 this seems to be done with intent to scare away an intruding skua but it may on the 

 other hand be related to sexual selection. 



One nelly seen coming from the north ; nellies are now scarce for they are busy 

 breeding. (The boat party have found two breeding-places in Brown's Bay.) 

 One or two gulls seen and some snowy petrels. 



Nov. 13th. Blowing from W.N.W. with snow. I visited the small rookery and 

 marked the new eggs except these which were too dirty to write on, and which I 

 brought back all gentoos. Gentoo eggs of 9th and 10th have all got a second egg 

 laid beside the first. (NOTE. Eggs dated 13th may be 12th or 13th, as I could not 

 visit the rookery yesterday.) The gentoos are getting less timid. 



A few penguins going to the water in the south but none going to the north. 

 Skuas about the ship in numbers. A few gulls seen. 



Johnnie Smith was out at the camp at Point Thomson and brought in a nelly's egg 

 .and six shags' eggs. The nelly's egg is 10'3 inches by 6'5 inches, and 8^ ounces. 

 Three seals, one at least an adult, just beyond the big penguin rookery. 

 Nov. 14th. Snow all day and very misty. Skuas at the carrion heap, also black- 

 backed gulls and three nellies. Snowy petrels and paddies seen about the rookery. 

 About 100 ringed penguins are nesting on the big rookery but none on the small one. 

 Many penguins going to the water in the south to feed. I marked eggs at the small 

 rookery as usual. Nests where first egg was laid on the llth have now a second egg. 

 I found one gentoo egg entirely without a shell but the bird sat on it like an ordinary 

 egg' To-day the adelias were continually shaking themselves of the snow and wet on 

 their coats, and their way of doing it is exactly like a dog's. About 100 ringed 

 penguins were found nesting on the big rookery scattered here and there among the others. 

 200 gentoo eggs and three terns' eggs were brought back from a nest a little beyond the 

 rookery. The tern's egg is olive green with irregular grey and brown spots all over it. 

 Tern's egg 1'3 inches by 17 inches. Weight, 0'9 ounces. 



1 This camp was on Point Thomson in Brown's Bay. 



