86 ZOOLOGICAL LOG OF OMOND HOUSE 



ten days ago, so probably this would have been a nest of three eggs. Another nest with 

 one egg was found on the top of the nearer of the two rocky islets close by here in 

 Scotia Bay. I marked the eggs. 



Took a* tow-netting in Uruguay Cove and lifted the trap which was down in 9 

 fathoms ; only amphipods in it, but these very abundant ; they had cleaned a skeleton 1 

 in two days. Tried the otter trawl in 6 to 8 fathoms, but caught nothing. 



Thirty to forty Weddell seals between here and the " Half-Moon " rookery, on the 

 beach and on small Hoe-pieces. Observed one with a large festering sore on one hind 

 flipper ; area denuded of skin about 8 by 4 inches. Birds seen : adelia, gentoo and 

 ringed penguins, shags, skuas, paddies, nellies, gulls, snowy petrels, terns and a few 

 Cape pigeons. 



Dec. 2nd. Shifted trap into Scotia Bay. Two skuas' eggs were got to-day, both 

 in one nest, and numerous ringed penguins' eggs. Also brought back marked gentoo 

 eggs for embryos, 12 to 19 days, and three adelia eggs, the only marked ones we 

 could find. 



On the cliffs on the west side of The Beach I got three Cape pigeons' eggs and two 

 snowy petrels'. All had single eggs. The Cape pigeons, when approached, eject a nasty- 

 smelling reddish fluid at one to a distance of as much as 8 feet, or usually 4 to 6 feet. 

 They will not move off their nests, but allow themselves to be caught. Their nests 

 consist merely of a few angular fragments of stone on a ledge or shelf of the rock. 

 Eggs pure white and very large for the size of the bird. 



The snowy petrels' nests are even rougher, with a very few stones, and are in a hole, 

 crack or crevice of the rock, not lying exposed on a shelf. The bird, when approached, 

 has a similar disagreeable habit to the Cape pigeon, but it is not quite so bad. It does 

 not fly off its nest but retreats further back into the hole or crevice, and from there 

 pours forth its offensive fluid, uttering all the time a series of shrill, harsh, discordant 

 cries. There are also several dozen Wilson's petrels up in these cliffs and one was caught 

 on its nest, which, like those of the snowy petrels, was in a very small crevice under a rock. 

 The bird readily allowed itself to be caught. It brought up a little reddish fluid which 

 came through the nostrils as well as out of the mouth, a fact which was observed with 

 the snowy petrel also. No eggs were got. In addition to these birds, numerous gulls, 

 nellies, shags, terns and paddies were seen. Weddell seals abundant along the west 

 side of the bay. 



Dec. 3rd. At the ringed penguin rookeries. Most of the birds lay two eggs. Their 

 rookeries are the dirtiest of the lot, which is saying a good deal. The birds are very 

 fierce and bite viciously at one's legs. Their cries are also rather more shrill and harsh 

 than those of other penguins. 



Got a clutch of two terns' eggs. Saw one paddy's nest on a ledge under an over- 

 hanging rock, composed of small stones and tail feathers of penguins ; no eggs. 



Temperature under three penguins sitting on eggs 1027, 101'0, 101'4. Got 

 1 The traps were generally baited with carcases of penguins or other birds. 



