AD^LIE PENGUINS 



were bringing with them food for the young, and 

 so distended were their stomachs with this, that 

 they had to lean backward as they walked, to 

 counterbalance their bulging bellies, and in conse- 

 quence frequently tripped over the inequalities of 

 the ground which were thus hidden from their gaze. 

 What with the exertion of tramping with their 

 burden across the rookery, and perhaps on rare 

 occasions one or two little disputes with other 

 penguins by the way, frequently they were in some 

 distress before they reached their destination, and 

 quite commonly they would be sick and bring up 

 the whole offering before they got there. Conse- 

 quently, little red heaps of mashed up and half 

 digested euphausia were to be seen about the 

 rookery. Once I saw a penguin, after he had 

 actually reached the nest, quite unable to wait for 

 the chick to help itself in the usual manner, deposit 

 the lot upon the ground in front of his mate. I saw 

 what was coming and secured the accompanying 

 photograph of the incident. (Fig. 57.) When 

 this happens the food is wasted, as neither chick 

 nor adult will touch it however hungry they may 

 be, the former only feeding by the natural method 

 of pushing his head down the throat of a parent, and 

 so helping himself direct from the gullet. (Fig. 58. ) 

 94 



