270 ORNITHOLOGY OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



Megalestris maccormicki Saunders. 



Megalestris maccormicki Cat. B., xxv. p. 321. 



Megalestris antarctica Pirie and Brown, Scot. Geogr. May., 1905, p. 26. 



This species was not distinguished from the Antarctic Skua (M. antarctica) during 

 the active work of the Expedition, and hence it is only possible to discriminate with 

 certainty between the two species by reference to the specimens obtained. No doubt, 

 however, all the skuas seen south of the Antarctic Circle belonged to the species named 

 after Dr McCormick. 



There are only two skins of this skua in the collection brought home by the 

 Scotia. The first of these, an adult, was procured on March 10th, 1903, in 66 40' S. 

 and 40 35' W., or the lowest latitude in which this species has, I believe, been obtained, 

 except the example alluded to by me above as captured at the South Orkneys by the 

 Argentine observers in 1904. 



The second example, an adult male, was shot alongside the ship on March 9th, 1904, 

 in 74 S. and 22 W. The Scotia was then fast in the pack and about two miles off 

 the Ice Barrier at Coats Land. Many of these birds were then present, as were also 

 numerous Giant and Snowy Petrels and Arctic Terns (Sterna macrura). 



The Antarctic Skua (M. antarctica) did not occur with certainty beyond 62 49' S. 

 (38 12' W.). 



Chionis alba (Gmelin). 



Chionis alba Cat. B., xxiv. p. 710. 



This bird, the only one found in the regions treated of that may be regarded as a 

 terrestrial or, to speak more correctly, a semiterrestrial species, was several times 

 observed at sea during the first voyage of the Scotia. It does not, however, penetrate 

 into the Weddell Sea, but was met with when the ship was running eastwards from the 

 South Orkneys towards the South Sandwich group in the late summer of 1903. 



During this voyage the White Sheathbill was observed on three occasions : First, 

 on February 6th, in lat. 60 10' S. (42 35' W.), when the Scotia was a good way off 

 the edge of the ice. Here this species, along with Banks's Whale-bird, Cape, Wilson's, 

 and Snowy Petrels, followed in the wake of the ship during the day. Again, on 

 February 8th, in 59 44' S. (36 40' W.), or about midway between the Orkney and 

 Sandwich groups and 300 miles from land, Sheathbills were observed along with the 

 birds already mentioned. Finally, it was noted at sea to the southward of the Orkneys 

 on March 21st in about 61 S. its furthest south. 



In the Liverpool Museum (Bull. Liverpool Mus., ii. p. 48) there is a specimen of this 

 bird which is said to have been shot on the Antarctic Continent in 78 S. by Dr Gunn, 

 who, strange to say, was afterwards proved never to have been there ! (see The Ibis, 

 1895, p. 165, and Antarctic Manual, p. 234, footnote). 



