Birds of the South Orkney Islands. 185 



In summer it was numerous, but avoided the main islands 

 and sought nesting-places on small islets or rocks off the 

 coast of Laurie and Saddle Islands, where it was estimated 

 that about two thousand five hundred pairs were breeding, 

 and where some of the rookeries contained as many as two 

 hundred nests. In winter it was much less numerous, but the 

 species never escaped observation for many days in succession. 



On August 2nd a flock containing several thousands, 

 probably early immigrants, was seen from the e Scotia' as 

 she lay in her winter-quarters. 



The first eggs were obtained on November 8th, on a small 

 islet some forty feet high situated off the north coast of 

 Laurie Island, where a few Ringed Penguins were also nesting. 

 The nests were well-built structures composed of seaweed, 

 moss, lichens, and feathers. Some of the birds were still 

 engaged in nest-building, and were diving and bringing 

 up masses of seaweed in their bills, while others were busily 

 engaged in picking mosses and lichens off the rocks. They 

 were great thieves, even worse than the Penguins, for when 

 the more timid of the nest-builders retreated on the approach 

 of the explorers, the bolder birds immediately carried off the 

 momentarily deserted materials for their own use. A few 

 only of the nests contained eggs, mostly one apiece, though 

 some had two ; and the conclusion was arrived at that 

 the birds had only just commenced laying. Many of the 

 nests were on rocks, some of them in the sites of previous 

 years • while others were on pinnacles of ice, having been 

 built on snow which had gradually thawed away all round 

 the nest, but not at its base. The sitting birds were very 

 confiding, and allowed themselves to be stroked on their 

 nests. On the following day, November 9th, another nesting- 

 colony was found on a small bare islet. Here many of the 

 nests contained three eggs, and the rock between them was 

 in a terribly unsavoury condition. The usual number of 

 eggs was two, but three were not unfrequeut. The eggs 

 varied in size from 51 to 67 mm. in length, and were 

 41 mm. in breadth. 



It was unfortunately impossible to visit these rookeries 



