40 BIRDS OF KERGUELEN ISLAND. 



Body generally black; breast and belly white. Feathers small, 

 pointed, and spike-shaped. 



Tarsus and foot black. Tarsus very short. Foot three-toed, webbed, 

 and very stout, resembling the foot of a plantigrade animal. Large cal- 

 losity under heel, upon which and the point of the tail the bird balances 

 itself in standing, the toes not touching the ground. 



Claivs black. 



Tail a bunch of bristles, compressed from side to side. 



Tibim are very long, and the skin covered internally by a very thick 

 layer of fat. The superficial mascles have numerous and broad attach- 

 ments to the skin internally. 



The first specimens oi this penguin found near our station were met 

 with on the beach on November 2G, having apparently just come out of 

 the water. There was but a single pair, both of which were secured, 

 one being brought home alive. The other fought so fiercely that 1 had 

 to kill him to get him home. Captain Fuller, of one of the sealing- 

 schooners, informed me that skins taken at that time would be worthless, 

 as the birds were beginning to moult. I skinned but one of the birds, 

 therefore, and endeavored to keep the other alive, tying it up on the 

 beach with a good long line to its leg. It had received a pretty severe 

 blow on the head while being captured, which may account for a good 

 deal of dullness during the first week or so, and for a strong aversion to 

 the water which it showed at first. After a time, it brightened up, and 

 would spend a large part of every day at the end of its line, splashing 

 in the water. It finally entangled itself in the sea-weed near the bot- 

 tom, and was drowned during the night (December IG). It s]ei)t bolt 

 upright, balanced on its heels, swaying back and forth as it breathed, 

 and snoring heavily. The neck is very extensible, so much so that the 

 bird can stand at least a foot taller when excited than when at rest. It 

 will frequently remain for twelve hours standing in the same place, and 

 seems to me to be in ever^^ way a stupider bird than either Pygoscdis or 

 UufTyptes. When thrown down, it raises itself by aid of its beak, press- 

 ing the point against a stone. 



December 29, two more were captured on the beach at the other side of 

 tlie iioint upon which we had settled. Mr. Holmes and I brought them 

 alive across the top of the hill, and found it a very laborious undertak- 

 ing. I tried to drive my bird ; but a very short journey on an up-grade 

 entirely exhausted his breath. After two or three attempts, he turned 

 about, having made up his mind to fight it out to the last rather than 



