ON THE BIRDS OF THE SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS. 227 



9'1 Ibs., the smallest scaling 7 Ibs. and the largest 1175 Ibs. Eight females averaged 

 8'65 Ibs., the smallest being 675 Ibs. and the largest 10 Ibs. On February 9th, 1904, 

 Dr Pirie got specimens weighing as much as 17 Ibs. 



The albino is an adult female, and the plumage is entirely pure white with a silky 

 gloss. The bill is black and the feet are orange. It was obtained on the south beach 

 of Scotia Bay on the 2nd of February 1904. 



Pygoscelis adelise (Hombr. et Jacq.). 



Pygoscelis adelix Cat. B., xxvi. p. 632. 



Thanks to the researches of the Expedition, the northern range of this truly 

 Antarctic species has been considerably extended, and the South Orkneys and their 

 neighbourhood now mark the extreme limits of its ascertained distribution at all 

 seasons of the year. 



The Adelie or Black-throated Penguin is no doubt a resident bird in the archipelago, 

 for it was observed there all the year round, though only occasionally during the winter 

 months, which were probably spent on the open sea in the vicinity of the islands. 



This bird was first noticed in lat. 60 30' S. and long. 43 40' W. on February 3rd, 

 1903, when the Scotia was nearing the South Orkneys. A number were then observed 

 swimming after the ship in company with P. antarctica, while others were seen on 

 the ice, either lying down or squatting. Those walking on the floes presented a comical 

 appearance, their gait resembling that of an " old salt" just ashore after a long voyage. 

 In jumping from the water on to the ice they made remarkable leaps of several feet, 

 but were not always successful, and fell back into the sea. The species does not appear 

 to have been observed at Saddle Island, but at Laurie Island it was the most abundant 

 of all the penguins, and its numbers during the summer were estimated at not less 

 than five millions. 



Though a few were noticed throughout the winter of 1903, it was not until October 

 7th (October 8th in 1904) that the birds commenced to return to their summer haunts. 

 Over forty were then observed in Scotia Bay, most of them engaged in climbing up the 

 rocks into the old rookeries as if they had come to stay. They were all in plump 

 condition and travelled quickly, most of them moving on their bellies at full speed. 

 On the 10th large bodies were making their way from the open water, and on arriving 

 at the shore clambered up the rocks at once and made for the rookery. A party of 

 these birds, accompanied by some Gentoos, was met en route, and as soon as the Adelies 

 observed the intruders they hurried ahead, moving quickly on their bellies, to meet the 

 strangers, and on arriving moderately near they stood up, threw back their heads, and 

 loudly screeched defiance ; but they retreated on being approached, scuttling off in the 

 prone position at full speed, followed by the more timid Gentoos. 



Mr Mossman noted that in the springs of 1903 and 1904 the first great arrivals of 



penguins took place immediately after the last cold snap of the season. 



VOL. IV. 4 



