PENGUINS 27T 



acquainted with them. Nevertheless, anyone who sees 

 a living penguin for the first time will always be at- 

 tracted and interested, both by the dignified Emperor 

 penguin, with his three feet of stature, and by the 

 bustling little Adelie. 



Not only in their upright walk, but also in their 

 manners and antics, these birds remind one strikingly of 

 human beings. It has been remarked that an Emperor 

 is the very image of "an old gentleman in evening 

 dress," and the resemblance is indeed very notice- 

 able. It becomes still more so when the Emperor — 

 as is always his habit — approaches the stranger with 

 a series of ceremonious bows; such is their good 

 breeding ! 



When this ceremony is over, the penguin will usually 

 come quite close; he is entirely unsuspecting and is not 

 frightened even if one goes slowly towards him. On 

 the other hand, if one approaches rapidly or touches 

 him, he is afraid and immediately takes to flight. It 

 sometimes happens, though, that he shows fight, and 

 then it is wiser to keep out of range of his flippers ; for 

 in these he has a very powerful weapon, which might 

 easily break a man's arm. If you wish to attack him, it 

 is better to do so from behind; both flippers must be 

 seized firmly at the same time and bent backwards along 

 his back; then the fight is over. 



The little Adelie is always comic. On meeting a 

 flock of these little busybodies the most ill-humoured 



