100 :S1R. JOHN HEWITT 



The Cape Penguin. 



We were met at the landing place by a flock of pen- 

 guins, most of which betook themselves in silence to the 

 sea, on onr approach. Although somewhat prepared for 

 adventures with penguins, we hardlv expected to find the 

 island so completely monopolised by these fascinating 

 birds. As we climbed and stumbled over the maze of 

 rocks, nesting penguins greeted us from every sheltered 

 nook, sometimes at every step in our advance. These 

 rocks, traversed by countless generations of penguins, 

 proved very slippery, and, also uncommonly hard — as 

 witness our bruised limbs: to add to the difficulties* 

 nesting penguins were no respectors of persons, biting 

 savagely at all intruders. Thus we had to walk very 

 circumspectly. 



J regret that more time could not be devoted simply 

 to the study of penguin behaviour, especially as It now 

 appears that the various published accounts of Cape 

 Penguins are very incomplete. 



At the time of our visit, (Easter 1919), the majority 

 of the birds were nesting. Others occupied themselves 

 by inquisitively tramping the island, occasionally going 

 dowTi to sea on a fishing excursion. At several rial, 

 landing places, groups of penguins could be seen at 

 any time during the day: here they basked in tlie 

 sunshine, content to do nothing but peck and preen their 

 verminous plumage. These landing places seemed to be 

 permanently occupied at any rate up to 10 or 11 p.m., 

 at which late hour fhough engrossed in fishing, we could 

 not fail to notice the silent group of birds on the adjacent 

 landing place. 



As evening came on, penguin activities waxed in 

 Rti-ength. The travellers waddled ab(mt in small Hocks, 

 for the most part quietly. On the other hand, the vocal- 

 ists com^nencing in a leisurely way, poured forth their 

 sonorous notes like the brayings of a donkey, but reduced 

 in intensity, and as the concert increased, all other sounds 



