348 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



work of an instant or performed whilst the bird was 

 making a hurried retreat from its nest. 



The iris is dirty brown ; the bill black except the tip, 

 which is whitish horn-colour ; the angle of the mouth is 

 pale greenish yellow ; the legs and toes are dusky livid, 

 With, a greenish tinge near the tarsal joint. 



Measurements of a female : — 



in. lin. 



Entire length 8 



Length of folded wing 3 8 



„ tarsus 12 



„ middle toe 18 



„ tail 13 



Ml 11 



SPHENISCID^. 



401. SpheniscUS demersus, Linn. South-African Penguin. 



Le Manchot dn Cap clc Bonne-Esperance, Buffou's Planches Enl, 



pi. 382, vol. X. p. 219. 

 Spheniscus demersa, Layard's Cat. No. 695. 

 Sphcniscus demersus, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 10790. 



This is the only description of Penguin found on the 

 south-west coast of Africa ; but if this coast-line lacks 

 variety in this genus, the deficiency is in some measure 

 compensated by the great abundance of this particular 

 species, which is found on almost all parts of the coast 

 from the Cape of Good Hope to Walwich Bay. How 

 much further it may extend to the north I cannot say. 



This species is known to sea-faring men as the " Jackass 

 Penguin ;" and its most favourite resorts arc the Ichaboe, 

 Mercury, Hollanis-bird, and Possession islands. 



Next to the (Tannet it is the most valuable depositor 



