124 Southern Cross. 



our feelings. The latter — myriads of Peugiiins^ — fairly covered the 

 flat promontory, many acres in extent, jutting out into the bay 

 between Cape Adare and a more westerly headland ; they further 

 lined all accessible projections of the rocks to an altitude of 800 or 

 900 feet. The youngsters were now almost full-grown. In their 

 thick, woolly, and grey down they exhibited a most remarkable and 

 comical appearance. At a distance the confused din and screaming 

 emanating from parents and children resembled the uproar of an 

 excited human assembly, thousands in number. 



" Our presence was not much appreciated, considering the millions 

 of years which must have elapsed since the last visit by pre- 

 historic man or monkey — before the glacial period. Our sea-boots 

 were bravely attacked as we passed along their ranks. The space 

 covered by the colony was practically free from snow ; but the layer 

 of guano was too thin, and mixed with too many pebbles, to be of 

 commercial value in tliese days of cheap phosphates. Unless the 

 guano has been carried out to sea from time to time by rains and 

 melting snow, the thinness of the layers, compared with the massive- 

 ness of similar deposits in other climes, would indicate that South 

 Victoria land has only during comparatively recent ages been made 

 use of by the Penguins during their breeding season. From this 

 (assumed) fact, interesting inferences may again be drawn regarding 

 changes in the climate of Antarctica during recent times ; but men 

 of science must weigh the pros and cons of this theory, and the most 

 permissible deductions to be made. 



" The mortality in the colony must be frightful, judging by the 

 number of skeletons and dead birds lying about in all directions. A 

 raptorial (Skua) Gull was present here, as everywhere in the neighbour- 

 hood of Penguin nurseries, and was busily occupied with its mission 

 in life — viz., prevention of over-population in the colony. The 

 patience and endurance of the Penguins are beyond praise, when it is 

 considered that thousands of them have to scale ridges hundreds of 

 feet in height to reach their nests, although their mode of locomotion 

 ashore is painfully awkward and slow. Like so many other Polar 

 animals, the full-grown bird is able to subsist on its own fat for long 

 periods ; Ijut the young birds require frequent and regular feeding, as 

 in all other cases of animal life. The capacity of most Polar inhabi- 

 tants for stowing away incredible quantities of food at one meal, and 

 biinging it up again at will, explains no doubt how the young can be 

 fed with fair regularity, although the parents may go for days without 

 an opportunity of eating." 



