Habits of the Hopping Penf/uin. 283 



of this creature, that this place is almost the only point on the 

 entire island, at which it would be possible for it to reach the 

 sea. A flock of these hopping penguins presents an odd and 

 peculiar appearance, as, after leisurely bathing in the sea, and 

 providing a sufficient supply of food for their young, their 

 elegant heads emerge from the water, when carefully calculating 

 the effect of the breakers, they ride their crest and allow them- 

 selves to be deposited on the beach j or, after hopping from stone 

 to stone, the plumes on their heads nodding to and fro, sud- 

 denly plunge headforemost into the sea, like so many somer- 

 sault-throwers ! Not less diverting are the movements of these 

 animals when, returned from their laborious wanderings, which 

 they undertake two or three times a day in search of food for 

 their young, they bend their tottering steps back to the roosting- 

 place, waddling in their walk like ducks. One always leads 

 the way as guide and forager-in-chief, and the rest, usually 

 from ten to fifteen in number, follow him in a column ; on 

 reaching the roosting-place, a piece of level winding ground, 

 they give a shrill cry, and comport themselves anything but 

 peaceably towards their neighbours, especially if these have 

 possessed themselves of their accustomed seats. Continual 

 squabbling and disputing go on, and their croaking and 

 screaming are prolonged far into the silence of night. 

 They show much tenderness for their young, shelter them with 



* Called by the English sailors " Port Egmont Hens " from their frequentiiig Port 

 Egmont in the Falkland Isles. They seem to be identical ia species with the 

 " skua," or " bonxie " of the Shetlands. 



