brooks: FALKLAND ISLAND BIRDS. 143 



Kl'DYI'TES NIGRIVESTIS Gould. 



Rock-hopper Penguin; "Rocky". 



Tliis is an abundant bird on these islands. 



My first introihiction to this interesting species was at the Gentoo 

 e<ilony at Port Stephens, where previously I had often seen Jackass 

 Penguins making short furtive tours of inspection. On this day I 

 noticed in a casual way what I took to be a small immature bird of this 

 species until attracted by its extraordinary means of locomotion; a 

 series of jumps for all the world like a man running a sack-race, but 

 bouncing along with such rapidity that I had no little difficulty in 

 securing it before it reached the water's edge. 



Several others were occasionally seen at the same place. When not 

 alarmed or in a great hurry they were walking, leaning forward and 

 lifting the feet high in an uncertain manner as do Jackass Penguins; 

 neither having the balance and confident gait of the Gentoo. Rock- 

 hoppers usually \vd\e the head thrust forward giving them a guilty, 

 hang-dog expression, the crests and sleek black backs rendering them 

 very uncanny and implike. At times they progress with a rolling 

 hoppity-hop gait. ^Yhen one of these birds is hopping about, espe- 

 cially with that degree of energy stimulated by great fear, it thrusts 

 its head forward and downward on landing scjuarely on both feet 

 simultaneously, and, immediately throwing its head up, the body 

 straightens and it seems to bounce off the ground for another leap, 

 continuing witli a rapidity of progress that is astounding. 



No opportunity to visit a colony could be had until it was too late 

 in the simimer to obtain any data as to breeding habits. The most 

 sm-prising feature was how any bird lacking volant powers could 

 reach the very top of the jagged cliff occupied by the colony. • The\' 

 seem to enjoy struggling to the most inaccessible places. Their toes, 

 unlike those of Jackass or Gentoo Penguins, are very flexible and pre- 

 hensile; these failing the^\- often have bad falls, though by bearing 

 down with the bill and wings they save themselves and slowly crawl 

 to a better footing. A hard drop of several feet does not lessen the 

 bird's courage, on the contrary it appears to augment its determination. 

 They can leap across surprisingly wide crevices, although I found one 

 bird at the bottom of a deep crevice from which I was unable to rescue 

 it, and where it undoubtedly starved. 



The landing-place looked very diliicult, the penguins being forced 



