THE PENGUINS OF THE ANTARCTIC REGIONS.^ 



By L. Gain, 



Doctor of Science, Naturalist of the Charcot Expedition. 



[With 9 plates. 



Owing to the numerous scientific observations made since the 

 close of the last century by various expeditions in the south polar 

 regions certain vertebrate animals inhabiting those frozen lands 

 are to-day well known. 



Of the 36 species of birds met below 60° south latitude, there are 

 5 belonging to a single family, that of the Spheniscidie, which par- 

 ticularly attract the attention of voyagers. We allude to the pen- 

 guhis.^ 



Pengums are the true inhabitants of these polar regions; from 

 whatever direction one approaches the south, he is always sure 

 to meet them. It is they that by their numerous rookeries, by their 

 contijiual movement, and by their cries animate this land to which 

 they bring life; it is they that relieve navigation in the polar regions 

 from the monotony that it would finally have, if they were not there 

 to strike between whiles a gay, lively note in the polar landscape. 



These penguins differ widely from otlior birds. Their wings, 

 without quills, provided only with little feathers that one might 

 compare to scales, form mere paddles unfit for flight; plantigi'ades, 

 they walk hoa\Tly, slowly, and when they wish to quicken their 

 pace they fall flat on the ground, making their way through the 

 snow by the aid of their feet and of their little wings, which also 

 serve to balance them. Spending almost all their life in the sea, 

 where they seek the crustaceans and small fish upon which they 

 feed, they are wonderful swimmers, of an extraordinary suppleness 

 and activity. 



' Translated by permission (with additions by the author) from La Nature, Paris, No. 2041, July G, 1912. 



» This name was first given to them by the Spanish navigators of the seventeenth century; they called 

 them pinguinos, from pengiiigo, meaning grease, a name given them bet^ause of the abundance of fat with 

 which these birds are covered. 



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