226 ORNITHOLOGY OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



The first bird seen in spring was noted on November 14th, and the first eggs of the 

 season were found on November 27th. 



The collection of skins contains only thirteen specimens of the Ringed Penguin, 

 but these represent the species in all stages of its plumage, and include a magnificent 

 albino example. 



The following is an account of the various stages of plumage, most of them hitherto 

 unknown, passed through by this species : 



Chick (Laurie Island, January 7th, 1904). The newly-hatched chick differs 

 somewhat remarkably from that of its congeners, since it lacks the dark or black head 

 characteristic of P. adelise and P. papua and is entirely clad in silky-white down, 

 except in the lower part of the abdomen, where it is partially naked. Bill black. Feet 

 yellowish. (It would have been more correct to figure this little bird in a nest rather 

 than erect, but such a mode of treatment would not have shown it to advantage. ) 



Young in Down (Saddle Island, February 4th, 1903). There is a great change from 

 the plumage of the chick to the full-grown young in down. The latter is densely 

 clothed in short down resembling fur, the upper parts of which are mouse-grey, passing 

 into pale whitish grey on the head and cheeks ; the hind-neck is tipped with white and 

 the lores are blackish. The under surface is drab-grey, paler in the centre of the 

 abdomen ; the chin and throat are blackish. Bill black. Feet yellowish. Wing 4'9 

 inches. Culmen 1'4 inches. Tail-feathers 1*5 inches. 



Young in Down and Feathers (Eillium Island, February 22nd, 1904). Has blue- 

 grey feathers on the lower back, tail, sides of the back, and on the edge and tip of the 

 wing ; a band of blackish feathers on the crown and hind-neck ; lores feathered black, 

 and the rest of the upper surface covered with mouse-grey down. Under parts with 

 pure white feathers on the abdomen, lower breast, and chin ; upper breast and neck in 

 whitish down with a dusky band across the throat, under which the characteristic black 

 ring or bridle is in evidence. Wing 6'3 inches. Culmen 1'35 inches. 



Immature Birds in First Plumage resemble the adults, from which they only differ 

 in having the back almost entirely blue, i.e. showing little black. Here, again, this 

 species differs from its congeners, which have more or less pronounced colour-characters 

 associated with their first plumage. 



Adults. The old birds on their arrival in spring (November) have the blue and 

 black of the upper surface very bright in tint, but as summer advances (February) the 

 blue fades and the black assumes a brownish hue. In February, too, some are in deep 

 moult, the under down shows through the scanty covering of contour-feathers, the 

 feathers on the wings are ready to drop off in patches, and the birds are quite tailless. 

 In March and April the new plumage has been assumed, with the exception of the tail- 

 feathers, which are still quite short, and yet these are the first to be assumed by the 

 otherwise downy young. The wing in the adult males measures from 7'1 to 7 '5 inches, 

 and in females from 6 '7 5 to 7 '2 inches. 



The average weight of seven adult males taken on the 4th of February 1903 was 



