Birds of the South Orkney Islands. 



155 



three, measured 4 - 43cm. x3"92 cm. The average weight of 

 fresh eggs was 3*56 oz. The eggs seem to be little known. 

 They vary in shape, some being almost perfectly oval, others 

 more elongate in form and narrower at one end. In colour 

 the majority of those in the collection are of a uniform very 

 pale greenish white, with a thin coating of a chalky nature, 

 snch as is found on the eggs of Cormorants (Phalacrocorax) 

 and other birds. 



The first chicks were found on January 7th, 1904, and 

 appeared to be about two days old; but this was not at the 

 rookery where the first eggs were laid. The young, though 

 hatched considerably later than those of their congeners, 

 seemed to develop more quickly, and by February 11th 

 some of them were beginning to shew the characteristic 

 black ring. 



In the autumn of 1904 Mr. Mossman saw this species for 

 the last time on April 26th. 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, Jan. 7th, 1904). — The newly-hatched 

 chick differs somewhat remarkably from that of its con- 

 geners, since it lacks the dark or black head characteristic 

 of P. adelice 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. 

 (See figure Plate IV. 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, Feb. 4th, 1903) . — There is a 

 great change from the plumage of the chick to the full-grown 



