SWIMMING BIRDS. 



461 



the rocks. Puffins are found in great numbers on our northern 

 shores. 





V '. 



— l-.'H'.MPER 



Fig. 389. — puffin. 



The Penguins, properly so called (Aim), have the bill elongated 

 like the blade of a knife, and covered with featliers as far as the 

 nostrils. Tlieir wings are so decidedly too small to sustain their 

 weight that tliey never fly at all. 



The manner in which they feed their young is curious and rather 

 amuciing. The old bird gets on a little eminence and makes a great 

 noise, between quacking and braying, holding its head up in the air, 

 as if it was haranguing the penguinary, while the young one stands 

 close to it, but a little lower. The old bird having continued its 

 clatter for about a minute, puts its licad down, and opens its mouth 

 widely, into which the young one thrusts its head and appears to 

 suck from the throat of its mother for a minute or two, after which 

 the clatter is repeated, and the young one fed again : this continues 

 for about ten minutes. — Darwin. 



The Common Penguins (AIca torda and inca) are 

 about the size of diiclvs, while the Great Penguin 

 {Aha imi^ennis) equals tliat of a goose.* The latter 

 lays hut a siugle egg, which is spotted with purple. 



* Perhaps we ought rather to say equalled that of a goose, for 

 although a few years ago these birds were sufficiently common, sucli 

 has been the relentless warfare carried on against them that tlie 

 .species is believed by ornitliologists to be now totally extinct. ^ 



