50 E. LÖNNBERG, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FAUNA OF SOUTH GEORGIA. 



Birds. 



Already the naturalists accompanying Cook, Messrs. Forster and Dr. Sparr- 

 man noted the richness of birds in South Georgia. Sparrman mentions for instance 

 in his narrative that »thousands» of shags nested on small islands and rocks near 

 Possession Bay. »A dozen», »Patagonian Penguins» (King-penguins) were observed 

 on the shore. Other sea-birds swarmed round the vessel and a »lark» (read: »pi- 

 pit») was heard singing, but Sparrman says »perhaps it was a straggler from the 

 Falklands. » 



The first important report about the bird-life of South Georgia was, however, 

 delivered by the German Expedition 1882—83 and published by Pagenstecher (1) 

 and von den Steinen (12). In these papers 22 (23?) species of kinds are recognized 

 as inhabiting South Georgia and 18 or perhaps 19 are recorded as breeding there. 



The Swedish Expedition 1902 (8 & 9) added to the breeders Diomedea exulans, 

 and Priocella glacialoides was added to the list of visitors. 



Sörling has added Oceanites oceanicus to the list of breeders so that this list 

 now contains 20 species, or 21 if Daption really breeds there as is most probable. 

 Among the visitors Thalassoeca antarctica and Thalassogeron culminatus, have been 

 observed, and perhaps also Sterna hirundinacea may be accepted as such, although 

 it is not yet stated. 



If Pelecanoides exsul is a distinct species it certainly is found at South Georgia. 

 In such a way the number of species which more or less belong to South Georgia 

 has increased to 29, but then the occasional stragglers are included. 



If the avifauna of South Georgia shall be compared with the same of other 

 subantarctic and antarctic districts the breeders must of course be considered in the 

 first rank. They are: 



Aptenodytes patachonica. Prion banksi. 



Pygoscelis papua. Pelecanoides urinatrix. 



■» antarctica. Diomedea exulans. 



Phalacrocorax atriceps. Phoebetria fuliginosa cornicoides. 



Oceanites oceanicus. Nettion georgicum. 



Garrodia nereis. Sterna vittata georgim. 



Fregetta melanogaster. Larus dominicanus. 



Majaqueus cequinoctialis. Caiharacta antarctica. 



Pagodroma nivea. Chionis alba. 



Ossifraga gigantea. Anthus antarcticus. 



Daption capensis. 



