EMPEROR PENGUINS 



Exhibit in Chicago Natural History Museum 



The Bay of Whales, at 78° 34' S. Lat., is the southern Hmit of range of seven of the 

 eight species of birds that range far to the south. Only one species reaches farther 

 south — the south polar skua. It has been found roosting at little fresh-water lakes in the 

 black rock away from the coast, and wandering so widely over the snowy wastes of 

 Antarctica that it may fly across the Antarctic continent. The farthest south record is 

 87° 20' S., only 160 miles from the South Pole and 560 miles from the sea. Albatrosses, 

 though characteristic of Antarctic waters, were not found so far south as the expedition 

 camp; the farthest record was at 77° 50' S. Lat. 



Though the emperor penguin at the Bay of Whales was a non-breeding summer 

 visitant, it breeds on the edge of the Antarctic ice and in the dead of winter in Stygian 

 darkness when temperatures of 40 to 60 degrees below zero are normal and the sun 

 does not come above the horizon. It then shares this fastness with no other bird. Some 

 kinds of penguins make a nest or even dig a Ijurrow in which to Ia\' their eggs, but the 

 emperor penguin makes no nest. Resting on the ice, it carries its egg on its feet, in the 

 space between the belly, feet, and tail. If left untended the egg would freeze, but the 

 incubating bird must eat, and a special type of community behavior has grown up to 

 take care of this situation. Apparently only a minority of the emperor penguins breed 

 each year: but the non-breeding birds in the colony are also eager to incubate eggs or 

 brood chicks. When after perhaps days of fasting the incubating bird leaves its duties 

 and goes to the sea to feed, there is a scramble to take over its duties. Sharp scuffles 



"95 



