176 Letters, Extracts, Notices, 8fc. 



I noticed, indeed, tliat the Kinoj Penguin remained erect 

 on its toes even when it had the head turned over the back 

 in the sleeping posture ; while one of the little Blue Pen- 

 guins, by having sores or '* corns " on the pad at the base of 

 the toes, plainly showed that it had habitually stood in this 

 position when at rest. 



No doubt the distal end of the tarso- metatarsus enters into 

 the support of the Penguins when standing and walking, but 

 the idea that they constantly support themselves on the 

 whole length of this bone is quite a mistake, and when they 

 occasionally sit down on their " hocks " they are doing no 

 more than many other birds do — Adjutants and Cassowaries^ 

 for example. 



The misconception would appear, from Dr. Watson's note 

 [loc. cit.), to have originated with C. Geoffroy nearly a 

 hundred years ago {" Note sur les Manchots,'' Bulletin de 

 Sciences par la Societe Philomathique, Paris, 1798, vol. i. 

 p. 81), and it is to me a matter of wonder that it sliould have 

 endured so long, considering that Penguins have frequently 

 been kept in confinement and have been correctly figured. 

 The Guillemot [Lonivia troile) appears to be generally planti- 

 grade, but this is not the case with any other diving-bird, so 



far as I have seen. 



Yours, &c., 



Frank Finn. 



30 Trebovir Road, Earl's Court, Londou, 

 October 13th, 1897. 



Sirs, — The visits which FuUgula rufina pays to the British 

 Isles are so occasional, and at such considerable intervals, 

 that the occurrence of a male of this species in the heart 

 of Lakeland seems to call for a passing notice. The bird 

 in question was seen on a small tarn in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Haweswater, Westmoreland, on the 9th of 

 October, 1897. The only other bird on the tarn Avas a 

 Mallard. The Ked-crested Pochard was shot by John Noble, 

 a farmer, who took it to our taxidermist, Mr. Hope, of 

 Penrith. Mr. Hope at once sent for me to confirm his 



