brooks: FALKLAND ISI,AND RIRDS. 137 



days the colonists tell me that both these species generally lay on 

 October 17, as was the case on my visit in 1915. An old resident told 

 ine that formerly within his memory they nested earlier. 



In the Falklands the Gentoos seek a variety of sites for their colo- 

 nies, but ne\er do they ascend to the tops of any of the hill ranges, 

 the summits chosen, if any, being of comparatively low grassy hills, 

 but often the greater part of a mile from the beach. Mr. Murphy's 

 hypothesis (Bull. Brooklyn iust. arts & sci., 2, p. 115-116) that pen- 

 guins still seek the heights on account of early glaciation, when the 

 ridges separating the ice-fillefl valleys were undoubtedly the onl\' l>arc 

 spots, seems very reasonable. 



Today in the Falklands, where man has been since tiie middle of 

 the eighteenth century, many penguins still run inland when frightened, 

 retaining the primordial fear of the seal; reaction to the stimulus of 

 fear still sending them aWay from their most natural element, where 

 their worst enemy has always existed. 



The colony at San Carlos was on a grassy hilltop about three 

 cpiarters of a mile from the beach. The approach was iip a steep, 

 winding, sandy ravine, an ascent reciuiring many rests for the birds 

 l)efore arriving at their destination, and a difficult walk for a man. 



The Port Stephens colony, where most of my observations were 

 made, was quite different. Here the main colony was in a low \alley 

 between the sea and the bay of Port Stephens. On the steep sides 

 of the valley were several small units of the main colon}' comprising 

 sixteen in all. The beach on the ocean side was only used. 



Xest-building, such as it is, is for some of the birds a long, arduous 

 task showing little progress, for while a bird is away finding a pebble 

 or a bit of peat, its neighbors help themselves to whate^■er has thus 

 far been brought to the nest. The owner does not show any concern, 

 but continues patiently, and when opportunity affords selects ma- 

 terial from an absent, but thus far more fortunate neighbor. If 

 caught in the act of pilfering a lively chase ensues. These l)irds are 

 very particular in choosing just the right bit of peat, often turning it 

 about for some time before finally rejecting or appropriating it. Any- 

 thing of a bright color is treasured by all, and a piece of tin or empty 

 shotgun shell placed on one side of a colony is taken from nest to nest, 

 until in a few days a long series of thefts may bring it to the other side. 

 The pleasures of nest-building continue long after the eggs are hatched, 

 some birds, even in December and as late as January 21, were to be 

 seen industriously waddling along with material that was carefully 

 placed in a pile near some nesting group. More rarely a pebble or 



