222 ORNITHOLOGY OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



The series of bird-skins is one of the most important ever made in the Antarctic 

 Seas. It comprises one hundred and forty-three specimens, representing sixteen out of 

 the eighteen species now known to frequent the islands and their immediate vicinity ; 

 while the eggs number several thousands. Many of the skins afford additional informa- 

 tion concerning little-known phases in the plumage of several species, and enable me to 

 describe for the first time the young or immature stages of others, such as the Ringed 

 Penguin, Shag, Snowy Petrel, and so forth. 



Add to the above slight summary of the bird- work accomplished the innumerable 

 notes on and accounts of the nidification and other habits of not a few little-known 

 species, and the investigations of their periods of incubation and the dates of their 

 arrival at and departure from their summer haunts, and we have an outline of the 

 ornithological results obtained by the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition at the 

 South Orkneys results of the first importance, and meriting the full recognition, the 

 sincere thanks, and the most hearty congratulations of all interested in our favourite 

 science. 



On the return of the Scotia from the Falklands, the members of the Expedition, 

 save Mr Mossman and another, embarked, and the South Orkneys were finally quitted 

 on February 22nd, 1903, for the southern shores of the Weddell Sea the Antarctic 

 Continent, the then-discovered Coats Land. 



In the preparation of this contribution I feel conscious that I have laboured under 

 one very great disadvantage, namely, that of not having been a member of the Expedi- 

 tion, a circumstance which must naturally result in unavoidable shortcomings. Much 

 valuable information, both written and verbal, has, however, been placed at my 

 disposal, including the official Zoological Log and full and interesting notes from the 

 private diaries of Dr Bruce, Dr Pirie, Dr Rudmose Brown, Mr Wilton, and Mr 

 Mossman. Mr Mossman, at the request of the Argentine Government, spent a second 

 winter and summer at Laurie Island, engaged in meteorological and magnetic work, and 

 he has most kindly supplied me with some additional information on bird-life made 

 after the departure of the Scottish Expedition. To all these friends I desire to express 

 my deep indebtedness and my sincere thanks. My friend Mr Norman B. Kinnear has 

 also earned my acknowledgments for his assistance in classifying records. 



I propose to conclude this section of my contribution by instituting a comparison 

 between the avifauna of the South Orkneys, that of the nearest regions lying to the 

 south and north of them, and that of the Antarctic Continent. 



Before proceeding to do this it will be well to remark that the avifauna of the 

 South Orkneys, as at present known, comprises 19 species; of these 13, perhaps 15, 

 are natives, i.e. breeding birds. 



Turning our attention first to the south, and comparing the avifauna of the 

 Orkneys with that of the South Shetlands, which lie to the south and west, we find a 

 remarkable similarity between the ornis of the two archipelagoes. This similitude is no 



