ALCID^. 377 



the bird to appear always falling backward if it attempts to stand on 

 dry land. 



This singular bird is very common on all our coasts, swimming to 

 great distances out to sea. It breeds on rocky islets, in the months 

 of August, September, and October. 



Through the kindness of a dear and valued friend, the late Admiral 

 Trotter, I once had the pleasure of visiting a breeding place of this 

 bird. Seal Island, a lonely rock in the centre of False Bay. It can 

 only be approached in certain winds, as the surf breaks on it with 

 great violence. The penguins occupy the lower ledges by hundreds, 

 having dug their holes among the rocks. As we walked over the stones, 

 the birds rushed out at us, snapping at our legs, and drawing blood 

 plentifully from the naked feet of the sailors, in defence of their one 

 large solitary white egg, which is laid on the bare ground, without any 

 protection from the damp — axis, 2" 9'" ; diam., 2'" — abruptly pointed 

 at the small end. When not sitting on their eggs, they stand upright 

 on the rocks in long rows, balanced on their stiff tails. They feed 

 exclusively on fish, wliich they overtake beneath the surface by their 

 swiftness in swimming. 



The Sixth Family, PELICANIDiE, or 

 Pelicans, 



have the bill more or less long;, broad at the base, straight 

 and compressed to the tip, which is sometimes hooked ; the 

 nostrils linear, and sometimes scarcely visible ; the wings 

 long ; the first quill the longest ; the tarsi short and robust ; 

 the toes long, and all four connected together by a broad 

 membrane ; the face and throat more or less naked, the 

 latter sometimes furnished with a naked, dilating skin, or 

 pouch, from the base of the lower mandible. 



The Sub-Family, PLOTINiE, or Darters, 



have the bill lengthened, very slender and acute, with the 

 lateral margins finely serrated, and the gonys long, and 

 scarcely ascending ; the nostrils basal, and covered by a 

 shield; the wings long ; the tail lengthened, and widening 

 towards the end ; the tarsi short, very strong ; the toes long ; 

 the anterior ones united by a broad web ; the hind toe long, 

 and united to the inner one by a broad web ; the claws short 

 and curved. 



Genus PLOTUS, Linn. 

 Bill longer than the head, straight, and very slender, 

 with the sides much compressed to the tip, which is very 

 acute ; the lateral margins finely serrated, and the gonys 

 long, and slightly ascending ; the nostrils basal, linear, and 

 scarcely visible ; wings long, with the second and third 



