10:2 XEW ZEALAND BIRDS. 



gales of Aviiul destroy them in great numbers^ hundreds being occa- 

 sionally found dead on the beach after a storm ; and when the sudden 

 transition from the quiet of their breeding-place to the turljuleiue of 

 the ocean^ and the great activity and muscular exertion then required, 

 are taken into consideration^ an occurrence of this kind Avill not 



aijpear at all surprising Its powers of progression in 



the deep are truly astonishing ; its swimming-poAvers are in fact so 

 great that it steins the Avaves of the most turbulent seas Avith the 

 utmost facility, and during the severest gale descends to the bottom, 

 where, among beautiful beds of coral and forests of seaweed, it 

 paddles about in search of crustaceans, small fish, and maiinc vege- 

 tables, all of Avhich kinds of food A\ere found in the stomachs of those 

 1 disse&ted/ .... 



" I once had a live one in my possession for a considerable time ; 

 and, although very savage Avheu first taken, scA'crely punishing the 

 captor's hands Avith its beak, it soon became quite tame, and exhi- 

 bited, for such a bird, a remarkable degree of intelligence. 



" On land its mode of progression is very ungainly, and it fre- 

 quently topples over Avdien attempting to run. Its usual attitude is 

 that represented in our plate ; but it sometimes crouches low, Avith 

 its breast nearly touching the ground. The sea, hoAvever, is its 

 natural abode ; and on observing its movements there it is at once 

 manifest that the flip[)ers are intended to perform the office of fins or 

 paddles for propelling the body through the water. On the surface 

 it sAvims loAv and in a rather clumsy fashion; but the moment it dives 

 under it trails its legs beliind like a bird on the wing, and, using its 

 flippers in the manner indicated, glides forward Avith the same ease 

 and freedom that the Sea-Gull cleaves the aii- abow it. In clear, 

 deep water I haA'e Avatehed its graceful cA-olntious with <-onsiderablc 

 interest; and I haA'e been astonished at the length of time the bird 

 could remain under before rising to the surface to breathe." — 



BULLER. 



176. Eudyptula undina, Gould. 



Little PE>fGUiN. Koeora. 

 Above, blue ; below, while. 



L., 14-5 ; W., <i-75 ; B., 1-2,5 ; T., -8 ; height of bill, -5. 

 JSffff.— White ; leiiglli, 2-1 ; breacllli, 1-6. 

 Jffab. — Both Islands ; Australia. 



"This Pengnin is equally, if not more abnndant on oui- coasts 

 than the preceding one ; and the foregoing account is applicable to 

 both species." — Buller. 



