Nesting on Albatross Island. 419 



3. EuDYPTULA MINOR. [Little Penguin.) 



4. EuDYPTULA UNDiNA. {Fairy Penguin.) 



These birds were extremely numerous; they had their 

 nests botli under rocks and in crevices near the water's edge, 

 and also on the top of the island under tussocks of grass and 

 other lierbage ; in fact the whole island was a large Penguin 

 " rookery/^ as their nests were found everywhere. Just 

 before dark they approached their landing-places in flocks 

 of some thirty birds. They waited about one hundred 

 yards out from the land for some little time before coming 

 in, and occasionally two flocks were to be seen not far from 

 one another ; the members of each flock keeping very close 

 together. After a time one lot would rapidly approach the 

 land^ swijnming both on and under the surface, and coming 

 in just behind the break of the swell. Thus they looked 

 exactly like a shoal of fish, Avith their shining bluish backs and 

 silvery-white bellies, swimming quickly through the water. 

 They all endeavoured to get a foothold on the rocks before 

 the drawback carried them away again, and there was a 

 great deal of squealing and splashing about in the water in 

 their haste to accomplish it. This many of them did, but 

 the remainder were carried back, only to be brought in 

 again by the succeeding swell, when probably they made 

 good their lauding. To avoid being dashed to pieces against 

 the rugged rocks by the heavy sea as it comes thundering in, 

 they turn round and swim rapidly against the surf, which 

 prevents their coming against auy obstacle Avith so much 

 force as they otherwise would when being carried in ; and 

 when the swell has spent itself, and just before the drawback 

 occurs, they endeavour to secure a landing. Now and then 

 a pair of birds may be seen hurrying in by themselves, but 

 as a rule they arrive in companies. 



The birds, Avhen first seen approaching the island, were in a 

 compact flock, and did not collect together just before coming 

 on shore, so it is probable that they keep together when out 

 at sea during the day. After landing they assembled just 

 above high-water mark, and remained there for some time 

 preening their feathers. When about half-an-hour had 



