456 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 56. 



birds were seen at the Bay of Independencia. These observations 

 would suggest that the breeding season extends over the greater part 

 of the year, since we find young penguins in late summer and eggs 

 and immature young in early and midwinter. Two mature males 

 that I killed were, respectively, 67 and 72 cm. long, 47 and 48 cm. in 

 girth, and 9f and 11 J pounds in weight. 



Raimondi (1856) ^ makes the following interesting note regarding 

 Spheniscus, which not only testifies to the much greater abundance 

 of the penguin in past time, but comprises a valuable observation 

 concerning their breeding places at a time when the caverns could 

 not have afforded sufficient space for them. 



The Spheniscus are abundant on the south island [Chincha group], which as I 

 have said, was uninhabited [by guano workers]. It is probable that they have been 

 driven from the north island by the ships that repair to that place in great numbers, 

 and by the exploitation works. These birds, not being able to fly, seek shelter and 

 dig for themselves a subterranean home in the guano itself. 



At the season when I visited the islands [evidently September, 1855] they were 

 occupied in incubating their eggs which are of the size of an egg of a turkey, and from 

 two to four in number [p. 738 translated]. 



It was at the small islands of Ballestas, a sister group to the Chin- 

 chas, that I had the best opportunity to see the penguin. The bluff 

 faces of these islands are marked by many caverns, some of which 

 extend deep into the islands beneath the high table-like tops. The 

 north island of the group is practically imdermined on all sides 

 by such caves. Rowmg around this island we could see a number 

 of penguins in couples or small groups in numerous hollows and 

 small caves or " cuevacitas." Far back in one of the large caves a 

 considerable number of these birds were conspicuous, even in the 

 obscurity of that deep vault, for their glossy white breasts and 

 lateral stripes. The stripes of the sides and backs were generally 

 better marks than the breasts, since the latter, though naturally 

 white, were often quite dark with the mud and manure of the nests. 

 Directing our boat into one of these caverns we rowed up well under 

 one of the great arches forming the double entrance, but were obliged 

 to put back as the boatmen were afraid of being unable to handle 

 their craft in the swell and among the rocks. Another cavern 

 proved more feasible of approach; after being rowed back to where 

 the water was quite shallow near the beach at the inner end, I could 

 step into the water and wade ashore. Some of the penguins ran 

 hurriedly into the water along the sides, while about a dozen retreated 

 to the very back of the cave. As soon as the eye became accustomed 

 to the darkness, fully a dozen nests could be seen, each with two 

 large eggs. The nests were simply hollows in the larger rocks and 

 covered with bones, evidently those of penguins. 



> Raimondi. A. Mf^molre sur le huano des Isles de Chincha et les oiseaux qui le produisent. (Extrait.) 

 Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci., vol. 42, 1856, pp. 735-738. Paris. 1856. 



