614 THE FEATHERED TIUBES. 



wlion on sliore, the bird is obliged to stand upright, and to hobble along In this singidar 

 attitude. A flock of these birds, standing in array on tlie sea-shore, lias a novel and 

 very remarkable appearance ; for, being collected in long ranks, they, resemble a 

 marshalled body of soldiers. The tarsi are verj' short and strong ; the toes are three in 

 number, united by intervening webs, besides an inner toe in a rudimentary condition, 

 directed backwards. 



The feet of the penguin sei've not only as paddles, but to some extent as a rudder ; for 

 the tail is very small, and in some species reduced to the minimum of development. Its 

 chief organs of aquatic progression are, however, its paddle-like wings. In the great 

 auk the wings are also jwddles, but they arc less comjiletely so, inasmuch as the usual 

 feathers of these organs are to be made out, though they are extremely short and small. 



I . -'""'- '' 



nr.AVl OF PENGUIN. WIXG OF TENGUIN. 



In the penguin, on the contrarj^, the paddles are always covered with layers of small, 

 rigid, scale-like feathers, lying as close as possible, and forming a thin but compact 

 covering to the skin. 



Comparing these organs with the wings of birds capable of flight, it will at once be 

 seen that, to some extent, they may be regarded as rudimentary : thej' are contracted in 

 their expanse, and are broad in proportion to their length. Having to resist the pressure 

 of a denser medium than the air, their bones are short, thick, solid, and firmly knit 

 together : the)' cannot be folded up as in other birds, but when not in use hang down 

 on each side ; they are moved by vigorous muscles, 



THE CRESl-ED PENGUIN.* 



Among the oceanic birds which make the island of Tristan da Cunha their resort, both 

 as a resting-place and a nursery in which to rear their j'oung, one of the most remarkable 

 is the Crested I'enguin. It conceals itself, according to Captain Carraichael, among tlie 

 low grass, and on the bottoms of the ravines where they open upon the shore. Hero 

 they assemble in countless multitudes, and keep up a moaning noise, which can be heard 

 at a great distance, and which, combined with the roar of the surge re-echoed from the 

 mountain, and the bold inhospitable coast around, is calculated to excite a train of by no 

 means pleasant ideas. As the head only appears above the water, this gives it a peculiar 

 facility of diving and pursuing its prey under water. I'or the same purpose, perhaps, 

 its eyes appear to be uncommonly sensitive to the stimulus of light. In every bird 

 Captain Carmichael liad the opportunity of studying, tlic pupil was contracted to a 

 mere dot. 



The aquatic activity of this biid lias led to its being called by the English, (ho 

 JKmjiiiii/ or hojijiiini penguin ; and it bears a similar iq)pcllation among the ]''rench. 

 Though abundant in the island of Tiistan da <.'unha, it is not confined exclusively to that 



• Aptcnodytcs ehi^j'socoine. — Lath. 



