202 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
called by sailors, regardless of species, Jackass Penguins, from their 
habit, when on shore, of throwing their head backwards, and of 
making a strange loud noise very like the braying of an ass. 
This family all defend themselves vigorously with their beaks 
when an attempt is made to lay hands upon them ; and, when pur- 
sued, they will pretend to retreat, and return immediately, throwing 
themselves upon their assailant. “ At other times they will look at 
you askance,” says Pernetty, ‘‘the head inclined first on one side, 
then on the other, as if they were mocking you.” ‘They hold them- 
selves upright on their feet, the body erect in a perpendicular line 
with the head. In this attitude they might be taken for a party 
of choristers with white surplices and black gowns. Navigators 
passing these islands of the southern seas might suppose that they 
were densely inhabited, for the loud roaring voices of these birds 
produce a noise equal to that of a great crowd. ‘The flesh is most 
unpalatable, but it is frequently the only resource of ship’s crews 
who find themselves short of provisions in these inhospitable regions. 
However, their eggs have the redeeming quality of being excellent. 
THe Auk (Aka) 
- js a noble bird, which was once common in our waters, but at this 
date scarce even in the Arctic Seas ; as it is but little known we refer 
our readers to Fig. 80 for a knowledge of its appearance. In habits 
and mode of life it strongly resembles the Penguins, 
THE GREBES (Podiceps). 
The Grebes have the head small, the neck somewhat elongated, 
the legs attached to the abdomen, the tail rudimentary, the tarsi 
compressed, the anterior toes united at their base by a membrane 
slightly lobed in its contracted extent. These birds live on the sea, 
but they inhabit fresh water by preference, feeding on small fishes, 
worms, molluscs, insects, and the products of aquatic vegetation. 
While they dive and swim admirably, they also fly with vigorous 
wing ; but they rarely resort to this unless alarmed or under migrating 
impulse. If the latter be the case, it is to visit the interior lakes, or 
to select a breeding-place. 
The nest of the Grebe is usually placed in a tuft of rushes on the 
edge of the water. It is composed exteriorly of large grassy plants 
roughly interlaced, and the interior is lined with soft broken grasses. 
delicately arranged. ‘The eggs vary from three to seven. On shore 
