ON THE BIRDS OF THE SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS. 225 



eggs in a very short time on December 12th. Dr Pirie had under more continuous 

 observation a small congeries which had taken up its abode amidst the Adelie rookery 

 at Point Martin, Scotia Bay. Here they constituted a small foreign element on fairly 

 high ground, with their congeners higher up as well as all over the ground between 

 them and the sea. Although massed together, they apparently get on with their 

 neighbours as well (or as ill) as with each other. The nests were poor affairs composed 

 of a few pebbles, varied occasionally by the bones of deceased ancestors. Woe betide 

 the inhabitant of these cities and villages that strays beyond the boundaries of his or 

 her domain ; then the beaks of all the penguins around dart out at the intruder and 

 soon drive it back to its own territory. There was one point where the path up the 

 cliff was very narrow, and here a constant stream of penguins of both species used to 

 go up and down on their way to the water. Right on the track were some nests of the 

 ringed species, and how these birds managed to hatch their eggs is a mystery, for all 

 day long they were incessantly engaged in pecking at the passers-by, who, though often 

 in a hurry, frequently stopped and retaliated. The cry of this bird is harsher than that 

 of the other species, and during the breeding-season it is active and always on the move, 

 though at other times it is solemn and phlegmatic in temperament. Its pugnacious 

 disposition made a visit to the rookery a painful adventure, for the protection of long 

 sea-boots did not always suffice. This bird is a good strategist, and believes in getting 

 in the first blow. Dr Pirie has seen one take a run of several yards, jump, and fasten 

 on to an intruder above his boots, at the same time lashing out vigorously with its 

 flippers. When on the beach or ice-foot mingled with other species, the Ringed 

 Penguins seemed always to take the lead in entering the water. They took the lead, 

 too, in repelling the attacks of the Samoyede dog "Russ." He could outmanoeuvre 

 any Adelie or Gentoo Penguin, but he had frequently to retire before the onslaughts 

 of the present species, which would face up to him and sometimes deliberately attack 

 him. It was decidedly the " boss," and jockeyed both the Adelies and the Gentoos. 



Occasionally three eggs are laid, usually two, and sometimes only one. A con- 

 siderable number of eggs were obtained, and these vary in size from 770 cm. x 5*40 cm. 

 to 6'95 cm. x 5'50 cm. A small egg, one of a clutch of three, measured 4'43 cm. x 3*92 

 cm. The average weight of fresh eggs was 3 '5 6 oz. The eggs seem to be little known. 

 They vary in shape, some being almost perfectly oval, others more elongate in form and 

 narrower at one end. In colour the majority of those in the collection are of a uniform 

 very pale greenish white, with a thin coating of a chalky nature, such as is found on 

 the eggs of cormorants (Phalacrocorax) and other birds. 



The first chicks were found on January 7th, 1904, and appeared to be about two 

 days old ; but this was not at the rookery where the first eggs were laid. The young, 

 though hatched considerably later than those of their congeners, seemed to develop more 

 quickly, and by February 1 1th some of them were beginning to show the characteristic 

 black ring. 



In the autumn of 1904 Mr Mossman saw this species for the last time on April 26th. 



