THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 233 



Like the kangaroos, those mammals of Australia which 

 conceal their little ones in a ventral sack, the female pen- 

 guin constantly carries her solitary egg in a pouch formed 

 by a fold of the skin of the abdomen, and it is held so fast 

 in this that she leaps or sometimes rolls from rock to rock 

 without letting it fall. It is well for her she does so, for 

 should such a mishap befall her, the male bird chastises her 

 without pity. This egg is even concealed with so much 

 care by the mother that, to get possession of it, it is neces- 

 sary to engage in a regular battle with her. The male also 

 mixes himself up in the affair; at his mate's call of anger 

 he rushes to the spot, and throws himself upon the ravisher 

 with a fury which only ceases when he sinks under his as- 

 sailant's club. 



CHAPTER I. 



GIANTS AND PIGMIES. 



Nature presents everywhere the most opposite extremes. 

 Birds have also their pigmies and their giants, their idlers 

 and indefatigable workers. Their habits display, side by 

 side, imbecility and intelligence, solitude and family life. 



Often in the tropical regions, where the sun darts his 

 fiercest rays, we may see flitting over the flowers brilliant 

 birds, which sweep rapidly past like a spark of topaz or 

 ruby ; these are the humming-birds, living diamonds, slighter 

 than some insects, and which often become the prey of 

 huge spiders. 



The giant of this group scarcely attains the size of a 



