564 SUBANTAECTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [Aves. 



Majaqueus, Eeichenbach, 1852. 

 Majaqueus aequinoctialis, Linnaeus. (Stink-pot ; Cape hen ; white-chinned petrel.) 

 Procellaria aequinoctialis, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, 1758, p. 132. 



I noticed this bird at the Antipodes Islands in February, 1907, and saw it on 

 the Auckland Islands during the visit of the expedition. It appears to nest on 

 Disappointment Island, for I drew a half -rotted specimen from a burrow much 

 larger than the majority of holes in the vicinity, though there were other large 

 burrows which I took to be the work of this petrel. 



Several dead birds were also found lying about, most of them represented by 

 skeletons only. It is conceivable that the skuas had picked the flesh off the bones, 

 but it was not clear how the birds had met their death. 

 Hah. — Southern Ocean, south of latitude 30° S. 



Macronectes, Richmond, 1906. 

 Macronectes giganteus, Grmelin, (Giant petrel ; nelly.) 



Procellaria gigantea, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., ed. xiii, i, 1788, p. 563. 



Though this large bird, of dark-brown colour, was in frequent attendance on the 

 boat after we left the Snares, on one occasion only during our visit did I notice it 

 on land. As we were leaving Enderby Island (Auckland Group) in the whaleboat, 

 a nelly sailed over our heads and alighted on the beach some distance from the car- 

 case of a seal already under discussion by a mob of skuas. The nelly stepped in 

 the direction of the body, and I was interested to see the result, but, unfortunately, 

 the boat passed behind a promontory, and further observation was debarred. 



The interesting observations made by Dr. Edward A. Wilson* on the birds of 

 the " Discovery " Expedition show that the so-called white varieties are much more 

 common within the Antarctic Circle than in more temperate regions, and he makes 

 some interesting deductions thereon. Describing an excursion to the southern 

 islands, Mr. F. R. Chapman,'!' referring to the Snares, writes, " We headed up a 

 great herd of nellies, and chased them awhile. One of them, instead of being nearly 

 black, was a pure- white albino, a case which, though rare, is not unique." Captain 

 Bollons tells me that there are extensive rookeries of these birds on both Campbell 

 and Antipodes Islands, and that he not infrequently sees white examples among 

 the dark-coloured birds. 



This bird will be better known under the generic name Ossifraga, Hombron and 

 Jacquinot, 1844 ; antedated by Wood in 1835. 



Hah. — South temperate and Antarctic seas. 



Daption, Stephens, 1825. 



Daption capensis, Linnaeus. (Cape pigeon.) 



Procellaria capensis, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, 1758, p. 132. 



This species joined us soon after we left Stewart Island, and thence to the Snares 

 forward, flocks were constantly in attendance. 



* Wilson, Nat. Antarctic Exped., Zool., ii, 1907, p. 93. 

 t Chapman, Trans. N.Z. Inst,, xxiii, 1891, p. 492. 



