276 ORNITHOLOGY OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



Several Diving Petrels (Pelecanoides sp.) were observed on April 8th and 9th 

 (52 30' S. to 51 S.)- 



Priofinus cinereus, logged as the "light brownish-grey petrel," was first noticed 

 on April 10th, in 4925'S. On the 13th several were again seen, and thereafter the 

 species was observed daily till Gough Island was reached (where several examples were 

 obtained Section IX.). 



(Estrelata brevirostris, a specimen of which had been shot when these birds were 

 first met with on March '21st, continued to be logged at intervals (to be more exact, 

 on eight different dates) up to April llth (49 S.), but only in small numbers. 



A larger species, otherwise similar to the last, was seen along with it on March 28th, 

 and again, though alone, on the next three days. Again on April 14th, 16th, and 17th 

 similar but larger birds were seen. These may have been Majaqueus seqidnoctialis. 

 Captain Robertson named them " Cape Hens" on seeing them. 



(Estrelata mollis was first met with on April 4th in 55 S., and on several other 

 dates up to the 15th, after which it was seen daily (except on the 19th) till Gough 

 Island was reached. Off Gough Island it was found in large numbers, and specimens 

 were obtained. 



Dr Brace's description on the 5th April (as well as the Gough Island specimens) 

 leaves no doubt as to the species, viz. : " About the size of a Cape Pigeon, more slender 

 in build, general colour pale grey, darker on the upper surface of the wings and top 

 of the head, white muzzle, dark eye, blackish beak, brownish ring round the neck, 

 most of the under surface white." It was usually logged as " Black-backed Petrel." 



Several other forms of petrel were logged during the voyage to Gough Island, which 

 it is not possible to identify, as no specimens were obtained. One in particular, 

 logged as the " Grey-bodied Petrel," was seen almost every day from 5th to 19th April, 

 and on the 7th and 12th in large numbers. The following description in Dr Bruce's 

 log for April 5th apparently refers to the "Grey-bodied Petrel" : "One about the size 

 of a Blue Petrel, but brown instead of bluish grey, and paler brown on the under surface, 

 with one diffused white patch on its breast." 



Skuas (Megalestris antarctica) were met with on the 18th April (two), when the 

 Scotia was still about 180 nautical miles south of Gough Island. Two were again seen 

 next day, and one on the 20th (around the island they were numerous). 



Terns were logged on the 7th (three), 9th and 20th (one), which were probably 

 Sterna vittata. 



Of penguins, some were observed on April 8th, 9th, and llth, in mid-ocean. 

 On the two latter dates they were identified as Spheniscus magellanicus and 

 Catarrhactes sp. 



