250 ORNITHOLOGY OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



The Adelia or Black-throated Penguins (P. adelise) arrived first in Scotia Bay. 

 About a fortnight after them arrived the slower, less energetic gentoos (P. papua), and 

 a few Ringed Penguins (P. antarctica) straggled southward to their haunts around 

 Saddle Island about the same time (see " Zoological Log of the Scotia," Rep. Sci. 

 Res. Voyage S.Y. Scotia, IV., and "Birds of the South Orkneys," ibid., Section V.). 



As soon as the birds arrive at the rookeries the mates are chosen, and this involves 

 much display and showing off on the part of the male. He stands erect, drawing him- 

 self up to his full height, with head thrown back and neck craned forward, and slowly 

 and impressively waves his flippers several times, emitting a long, loud cackle. This over, 

 he resumes his normal, somewhat squat appearance, and looks round to see what 

 impression his charms and powers have had on the onlooking females. This process 

 repeated a few times generally results in a couple being paired off, and nest-building 

 then begins. 



One often sees what is clearly a demonstration of affection on the part of a couple. 

 The two stand facing one another, and stretching forward cross their beaks, and proceed 

 to sway from side to side in unison, uttering the while a shrill, harsh cry. At other 

 times the two sit facing one another with a look of the smuggest complacency on 

 their faces. 



Within a week of the arrival of the penguins nest-building is in full swing in the 

 rookeries. The first-comers get the best positions, already clear of snow, while the 

 later arrivals have to be content with less favourable sites. Nest material is not plenti- 

 ful, and the Black-throated Penguin almost entirely confines itself to the use of stones ; 

 the gentoo generally adds to his stones any stray feathers and bones which he can 

 find. Male and female take an equal share in the nest-building. The bird walks to 

 and fro collecting pebbles in its beak, and carries them to the chosen spot one by one, 

 there depositing them in a little heap. He is quite energetic over the work and, 

 though a penguin can walk but slowly on his feet, he often travels ten yards or more 

 for a stone. It is most amusing to watch their cunning in acquiring stones, for a 

 penguin never walks far for a stone if he can steal one near by. Since the nests are 

 seldom more than a couple of feet apart, theft is a relatively simple matter. A penguin 

 sets out to fetch a stone and notices a nest near by unwatched for the moment. He 

 approaches with the obvious intention of stealing a stone, when at that moment the 

 rightful owner, himself probably coming from a raid, returns. The intending culprit, 

 walking on with a most innocent air and with a look as if the thought of theft had 

 never entered his head, passes on to pick up an unclaimed pebble farther away. But 

 given a better opportunity he will not fail next time. 



Often, of course, the culprit is caught in the act, and then an angry fight with beaks 

 ensues, and blood flows and feathers fly before peace is restored. In fact, the penguin 

 is a most pugnacious bird, and on every rookery there are always several fights in 

 progress, while neighbours continually snarl threateningly at one another. Not 

 infrequently one sees an unpaired male very probably a one-year bii'd whose powers 



