172 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke on the 



feathers appearing on the wings and tail. The down is of a 

 lavender-grey tint on the back and chest, darker on the 

 head, and dull ivory-white on the abdomen. (See figure 1, 

 Plate III.) 



Ossil'RAGA GIGANTEA (Gm.). (Plate XI. fig. 2.) 



Ossifraga gigantea Cat. B. xxv. p. 422. 



The Giant Petrel was present at the Station all the year 



round, but was very much less numerous during the winter 



months. There was a decided falling off in May, but the 



lowest ebb was reached in June and continued until 



September, when the summer birds of this species commenced 



to arrive. During the nesting-season it was estimated that 



about 5000 were on Laurie I. alone, and when one remembers 



the savage nature and almost insatiable appetite of these 



giants, it is easy to realise what a terrible scourge they must 



have been to the Penguins, upon which and their eggs and 



young it was their one aim to gorge themselves to repletion. 



Thej r were to be seen everywhere in the summer-time, but 



their rookeries were confined to the north and east coasts. 



Three of these rookeries were visited, two of which, namely 



those on the Watson Peninsula, contained two hundred nests 



each, while the third at Cape Geddes comprised only about 



one hundred. One of the larger colonies was situated on 



bare rocky ground from 300 to 400 feet above sea-level, 



and the other on a moraine at an elevation of from 250 to 



300 feet. The nests consisted of great piles of small angular 



stones, and were about two feet in diameter. The third and 



smaller rookery was on a low strip of ground between a cliff 



and the shore, and was close to the sea; the nests were 



similar to the others. Although these contained no eggs on 



November 3rd, yet the birds allowed a close approach, one 



of the parents sitting on the nest, the other usually standing 



close alongside. 



The first eggs were laid on November 4th, but four only 

 were found on that date. On the 19th, however, eighty were 

 obtained, all single specimens, except in two instances where 

 two were found, probably laid by as many females. The birds 

 had to be pushed off the nests ere the eggs could be taken, 



