ON THE BIRDS OF THE SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS. 221 



following birds were observed more or less frequently, though not abundantly : Snowy 

 Petrels (Pagodroma nivea), Giant Petrels (Ossifraga gigantea), Gulls (Larus doniini- 

 canus), and Sheathbills (Chionis alba). The Skuas (Megalestris antarctica) and the 

 Ringed Penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica} departed during the last days of April, and 

 were followed by the Cape Petrel (Daption capensis) and the Adelie and Gentoo 

 Penguins (Pygoscelis adelise and P. papua). 



The first spring immigratory movements took place in October, when Cape Petrels, 

 Adelie and Gentoo Penguins, Skuas, and Terns (Sterna hirundinacea) arrived in the 

 order indicated, the last-named at the very end of the month. These were followed in 

 November by Wilson's Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), the Ringed Penguin, and the 

 Silver Petrel (Priocella glacialoides). 



With the return of spring the explorers were busy and journeys were undertaken in 

 various directions, while a camp was established on the northern shore of the island, 

 which \vas productive of excellent ornithological results, but had unfortunately to be 

 abandoned at an interesting period on account of the break-up of the ice. 



After having been icebound for eight long months, the Scotia was liberated on 

 November 23rd, 1903, and immediately departed for the Falklands and Buenos Aires 

 to refit ; but a party under the charge of Mr Mossman, the meteorologist, and Dr 

 Harvey Pirie, the medical officer and geologist, was left to carry on the various observa- 

 tions and investigations and to make collections throughout the summer months. It is 

 to the assiduous labours of Dr Pirie that we owe most of our knowledge of the bird-life 

 of the island during this most interesting part of the year, and he has earned the best 

 thanks of ornithologists for the vast amount of valuable work which he accomplished. 



During the summer bird-life was extremely abundant. Rookeries of the three 

 species of penguin (Pygoscelis) were numerous on the low rocky shores and less steep 

 cliffs on various parts of the coast. Some of these bird-cities contained several millions 

 of inhabitants, and their daily life presented scenes so remarkable as to be almost 

 beyond description. The cliffs and their screes were the home of several species of 

 petrels, which resorted in great numbers to the ledges and crannies for nesting-sites, and 

 the shores were the abode of the gull, the skua, and the tern. 



The Ringed Penguin, hitherto regarded as being nowhere an abundant species, was 

 found to have its metropolis at the South Orkneys, where the summer population on 

 Laurie Island alone was estimated at not less than one million birds. 



The finding of the eggs of the familiar Cape Petrel (hitherto unknown to science) 

 and of the chicks and young of the Ringed Penguin and the Snowy Petrel, the remark- 

 able extension of the known range of the Macaroni Penguin (Catarrhactes chrysolophus) 

 and of Fregetta melanogaster (which was undoubtedly breeding), were also among the 

 results of the summer's work. Eggs of Wilson's Petrel, the Sheathbill, the Blue-eyed 

 Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps), and other well-known Antarctic species were also 

 obtained, some of them in great abundance. The collection of bird-skins, too, was 

 largely augmented. 



