284 THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



of the Challenger Expedition, states that a crested penguin 

 placed in a basket and submerged was dead in a minute and a 

 half. This, however, can hardly be taken as a fair test. 



A peculiarity in the skeleton of a penguin is the shortness of 

 the three metatarsal bones of the leg, which are separated by 

 deep grooves throughout their whole length, the grooves generally 

 penetrating completely through the bone in two places, so as to 

 produce two large intermetatarsal foramina. 



Although these birds are naturally not so active on land as in 

 water, it is a mistake to suppose that they are plantigrade, in 

 other words, that they apply the lower surface of the metatarsus 

 to the ground when walking or hopping. They walk or hop on 

 their toes like other birds, and it is only when resting that they 

 place the metatarsus on the ground, a habit which is by no means 

 peculiar to penguins. It is stated that on the snow or smooth ice 

 they lie down on their stomachs and push themselves along with 

 their wings so rapidly that a man running can hardly keep up 

 with them. 



On shore, they sleep a good deal in the daytime, tucking their 

 heads behind their small wings, and at night they make a 

 hideous noise. Night and day are much the same to them. They 

 feed largely on cuttle-fish and Crustacea; but, no doubt, they 

 eat fish as well. In size and colour, both sexes are alike, 

 but the young birds generally differ from the adults. 



The usual number of eggs in a penguin's nest is two, but the 

 rock-hopper lays its two eggs at about two months' interval, the 

 second being laid after the first is hatched, so that it has really 

 two broods of one each. INIembers of this species malce no nest, 

 but carry their egg between their legs. The king penguin has 

 improved upon this. It also has only one egg at a time, but it 

 carries this egg in a fold of skin between the legs, so that the 

 egg is quite hidden. The egg also differs in shape from the egg 

 of other penguins in being pointed at one end, which must help 

 its being retained in the fold of skin. 



The species of Catarrhactes makes rough nests of grass, where 

 any is to be obtained. Each parent sits on the eggs alternately. 

 When the time for changing comes, the relief places itself close 



