NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 1613 



In Gould's day the Faiiy Pcngriiii was breeding on Watcrhousc 

 Island, olT the north coast of Tasmania. The tggs in my collcetion were 

 collected on Cape Mai'ia van Diemcn, New Zealand, September lUlli, 

 1887. 



Sir Weaker BiUlcr states he has found this Little Penguin far more 

 tractable than the large crested species, for iimler judicious management 

 it will sixin become perfectly tame. 



A coiTesjK)ndent (" H.M.N. "), writing to " The Australasian," 25tli 

 May, 1S9S, states that " Small I'cnguins arc common in the Dorwent, 

 where they may be seen sometimes in flocks of half a dozen. As a, rule, 

 thej' go about in paire. They are seldom seen singly. I had an 

 opportimity of watching one feeding. It liad driven a shoal of garfsh 

 into a shallow in Sandy Bay, by darting backwards and forwards behind 

 them in decreasing semi-circles. When I arrived it had the fish bailed 

 np in about twelve inches of water, right against the rocks. The speed 

 with which it swam along the bottom was astonishing. It used its 

 wings as paddles witli a quick fluttering motion. It seemed to be flying 

 under water. When it had got the fish conveniently together, it made 

 a dart into the shoal, and seized one nearly as long as itself, swallowing 

 it instantly. So quickly were the fish disposed of that I coidd not see 

 any act of swallowing. The fish was simply seized, and then it vanished. 

 A few half-circles on the part of the Penguin brought the fish together 

 again, and another was seized and swallowed. If I had not shown 

 m}'self over the rocks, and alanned the Penguin, I have no doubt it 

 would have devoiured the whole shoal. I watched for several minutes, 

 and theiPenguin did not once rise to the surface for breath.'' 



I have been much entertained while witnessing the turning move- 

 ments of wonderful rapidity made by tlie Little Penguin after small 

 fry in the waters of Hobson's Bay. But I have noticed that the bii'd, 

 at int<'rvals, invariably brought its bill to the surface of the water to 

 breathe, albeit for half a second only, and wliile keeping up the chase. 

 Frequently when pursuer and piu'sued came to close quarters their move- 

 ments were so rapid as almost to deceive the eye. 



