Bird Characteristics Architecturally 103 



a kangaroo than the last named, on account of its having 

 no quill feathers in its wings, or, rather, arms ; while it is 

 so large that it has as well as the aibatross, obtained from 

 our sailors the name of the Cape sheep. But, though its 

 bill, which is long and narrow, seems less strong for 

 digging than that of the puffin, it contrives to form ex- 

 tensive burrows in the desolate islands which it frequents. 

 Sir Francis Drake says the French called them toads, from 

 their creeping into holes underground ; and Van Noort 

 tells us that they make the holes themselves, as the rabbits 

 do. They select for nestling a sandy plain or down, where 

 they usually congregate in such numbers as everywhere 

 to undermine the ground, so that in walking it is not 

 unusual to sink up to the knees ; but, if the penguin 

 chances to be at home, she revenges herself upon the 

 passenger who has destroyed her roof by fastening upon 

 his legs and biting him severely. 



Another species of these birds, called the Cape Penguin 

 (Aptenodytes demersa), smaller than the preceding, makes 

 its nest among brambles, scraping in the sand and forming 

 a hole, in which it lurks so closely that in passing along it 

 is not readily peiceived, though the traveller soon receives 

 no very friendly notice to quit the premises by the penguin 

 biting his legs with her formidable bill. They are also 

 known to nestle on the islets along the southern coasts of 

 Africa ; and, what is remarkable, they were observe^ in 

 one instance to prefer a raised knoll, though it was half a 

 mile from the sea. 



Another bird with an architectural bent is the Burrow- 

 ing Owl (Strix cuniculana), a singular bird, found in some 

 of the warmer districts of America. This bird, too, is 

 accused of availing itself of the labours of others with as 

 much injustice as it appears the puffin is subjected to. 

 Fouillee and Molina, the original describers, say that the 

 owl found in Chili digs a hole in the ground for its nest. 



" The evidence for this fact," says Hill, " is far from 

 being satisfactory, for it does not follow that a bird which 

 has been found in a hole underground either dug that 

 subterranean habitation or constantly resided there." 



The evidence upon the subject is certainly contra- 



