74 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



from the iron tower. Mr. Bennett, the light-keeper, 

 was most kind and obliging, and at once told us 

 that he would be delighted to put us up for the 

 night in his house. Moreover, he showed us over 

 the lighthouse, which is one of the most important 

 at the Cape. It is about 160 feet in height, and 

 is built entirely of iron. The light is revolving 

 and white, and about 4J gallons of oil are burnt 

 every night. Mr. Bennett told me that very few 

 birds ever strike the glass of the lighthouse, 

 and this is not surprising, as Dassen Island is too 

 far south for migrating passerine birds. 



Outside the windows of my room was a small 

 colony of about twenty penguins which, through- 

 out the night, kept up a continual " braying." The 

 name, "Jackass Penguin," has been given most 

 appropriately to this bird, for their cry is a perfect 

 imitation of the bray of an ass. The birds near 

 the house were answered by the rest of the 

 penguins on the island, and a most extraordinar}^ 

 noise was the result, a constant " braying " 

 resounding from all parts of the island. 



Early next morning we met outside the light- 

 house and examined some of the penguins' 

 nesting holes, many of which contained eggs and 

 sitting birds. No nest is made, but the two eggs, 

 which are white, with a shell of coarse texture, 

 are deposited in a hollow scooped out at the foot 

 of the ice-plants, or in a natural depression in the 

 ground. The female sits very close, and when 



