420 Mr. D. le Souef on Birds found 



elapsed after the first contingent lauded, and the numbers 

 had been augmented by fresh arrivals to over 100 birds, 

 one would start along their well-Avorn track, and the others 

 would all follow, but they soon branched off along the dif- 

 ferent paths that led to their various nests. jNIany ascended 

 steep inclines to reach the top of the island, and it was 

 astonishing to see them climbing up at an angle of GO degrees 

 and more, occasionally aiding themselves with their wings 

 and beak, sometimes walking, sometimes hopping from rock 

 to rock. 



On reaching their mates on the nest they commenced 

 their peculiar braying sound, first one bird and then the 

 other; and in the caves, where numbers of these birds had 

 their nests, the sound was kept up more or less all night. 

 The noise is very loud and discordant. Two slightly different 

 notes were heard; possibly one was made by the Little 

 and the other by the Fairy Penguin. The two kinds of 

 birds did not seem to land at the same time, but got mixed 

 up when congregating on the landing-places. The Fairy 

 Penguin appeared to be of a brighter colour than the larger 

 species. 



The young of both species were covered with very dark 

 brown down, and obtained their food by putting their beak 

 inside that of their parent — the young being very noisy at 

 feeding-time. They do not leave the nest until fully fledged, 

 although when about three-parts grown their parents leave 

 them to themselves during the day. Two white eggs are laid, 

 but these soon get discoloured by the dirt. I noticed that 

 one was always considerably longer than the other, as will be 

 seen by the measurements. Three clutches of '' Little " Pen- 

 guins measured : — A. (1) 2-31 inches Xl-73; (2) 2o0xl-68. 

 B. (1)209 inches X 1-76; (2) 2-35 x 1-77. C. (1) 2-18 inches 

 xl-68; (2) 2-27 X 1-66. 



The birds remained perfectly quiet all day on their nests, 

 except when disturbed. They both pecked and scratched 

 hard at the hand that attempted to take their eggs or young. 

 The eggs and young found on the top of the island Avere, as 

 a rule, not so far advanced as those nearer to the water. 



