Birds of the South Orkney Islands. 15] 



occur in the Shctlands, namely, the Petrel Fregetta melano- 

 gaster ; while I am not aware that the latter group possesses 

 a single native species not found in the Orkneys. 



When, however, we come to extend our ornithic survey 

 to the nearest northern land, South Georgia I., the result is 

 entirely different. Here we find that while there are 9 * 

 native birds common to both, South Georgia has at least 12 f 

 which do not breed in the Orkneys, while the latter isles 

 can only claim 3 which do not summer in Georgia, namely 

 Pygoscelis adelice, Phalacrocorax atriceps, and Sterna hirun- 

 dinacea. When we examine and compare the climatic 

 conditions prevailing at these two stations we have the 

 key to these marked differences. In South Georgia, 

 though only six degrees north of the South Orkneys, the 

 mean summer temperature, Mr. Mossman informs me, is 

 8° - 8 higher, while autumn, winter, and spring are respectively 

 ll°-6, 15°-9, and 10 o '7 warmer. At South Georgia the 

 lowest temperature recorded was 9°'9 above zero, while at 

 the South Orkneys 40° below zero has been registered. In 

 South Georgia no less than 13 species of flowering plants 

 (Phanerogams) are known: in the South Orkneys not one. 



Extending our survey in like manner to the far south, 

 and comparing the avifauna of the South Orkneys with that 

 of the Antarctic Continent, we find that the latter has only 

 3 native birds not summering in the Orkneys, namely the 

 stately Aptenodytes forsteri, Megalestris maccormicki, and 

 Sterna macrura antistropha Reichenow. The birds common 

 to both are also 3 — Pygoscelis adelice, Oceanites oceanicus, 

 and Thalassozca antarctica. 



The final instalment of the ornithological resnlls of the 



* These are Pygoscelis antarctica and P. papua, Fregetta melanogaster, 

 Pagodroma nivt m, Ossifraga gigantea, Daption capensis, Larus domini- 

 canus, Megalestris antarctica, and Chionis alba. 



f Aptenodytes patagonica, Catarrhactes chrysolqphus (possibly a 

 breeder at the S. Orkneys), Pelecanoides exsul, Garrodia nereis, Majaqueus 

 eequinoctialis, Prion desolatus, Diomedea exulans, Phcebetria fuliginosa, 

 Sterna vittata georgiee, "Phalacrocorax carunculatus Gm. (P. albix 

 erqtuidula eatoni, and Anthus antarcficus. 



