AJfSERES. lOi 



" E. vittata, if indeed a true Eudyptes, is easily distinguished from 

 all otlier members of the Penguin group by its broad white superciliary 

 streak, which runs from the base of bill to the back of head, but which 

 does not consist of elongated feathers." — Finsch. 



174. Eudyptes atrata. Rutton. 



Black Penguin. 



Above, from the top of the head to the tail, bhie-blaek ; sides of the head, tliroat, and 

 whole under-surface, jet-black. A thiu, interrupted yellow line from the bill, over the eye, 

 and produced posteriorly into a long yellow crest. Bill, pale browni6h-red ; feet, black, 

 inclining to reddish-black ou the toes. 



L., 27 ; W., 77 ; B., 2-75 (culmen, 2-55). 



Hob. — The Snares. (A single specimen only.) 



Distinguished by its massive, deep hi 1, its very small hind toe, and long tail. About 

 the same size as E. pacht/r?iyncJius. — HuTTON. 



" This species cannot be confounded with any other, regard being 

 paid to the jet-black coloration of its under-surface." — Finsch. 



EUDTPTULA. 



Nostrils, rather rounded, placed in the middle of the bill ; tail, very short. 

 Australia. 



175. Eudyptula minor. Forst. 



Blue Penguin. Koboea. 

 (Plate XXXVII.) 

 Above, blue ; below, white. 



L., 18-5 ; W., 5-75 ; B., 1-9 ; T., -8 ; height of bill, "75. 

 iJ^^.— White ; length, 2-2 ; breadth, 1-75. 

 Hab. — Both Islands. 



" This species occurs all round our coasts^ and resorts in large 

 numbers to the Island of Kapiti, in Cook Strait, and probably to 

 other islands of similar character, to breed and rear its young. It is 

 abundant also in the seas surrounding Tasmania, in Bass's Strait, and 

 on the south coast of Australia generally. Mr. Gould found it 

 breeding on the low islands in Bass's Strait from September to Janu- 

 ary, and states that in these localities the ground is ' completely inter- 

 sected by paths and avenues ; and so much care is expended by the 

 birds in the formation of these little walks that every stick and stone 

 is removed, and in some instances even the herbage, by which the 

 surface is rendered so neat and smooth as to appear more like the 

 work of the human hand than the labour of one of the lower animals. 

 A considerable portion of the year is occupied in the 

 process of breeding and rearing the young, iii consequence of its 

 being necessary that their progeny should acquire sufficient vigour to 

 resist the raging of that element on which they are destined to dwell, 

 and which I believe they never again leave until, by the impulse of 

 nature, they in turn seek the land for the purpose of reproduction. 

 Notwithstanding this cai'e for the preservation of the young, heavy 



