^°'-/^^-] Stray Feathers. 253 



River, north-west Tasmania, when we noticed a swirUng move- 

 ment in the water, as if a struggle were taking place beneath 

 the surface. In a few minutes the head of a Little Penguin 

 {^Eudyptida minor, Fors.) appeared, a kind of hoarse " quawk " was 

 uttered, and the head disappeared. Presently the same swirling 

 movement of the water took place in the clear water close to the 

 bank, and we were enabled to see the Penguin paddling round 

 and round beneath the surface after a shoal of small mullet. 

 He followed every curve and twist of the fishes, doubtless 

 swallowing every now and then one of the rear-guard, Mr. A. 

 J. Campbell, in " Nests and Eggs," describes a similar scene in 

 the waters of Port Phillip Bay. 



Our Penguin was well away from the open sea, two miles 

 from the river mouth, and is the first I have seen venture so far 

 inland ; he appeared to be solitary. The water is, of course, 

 saltish all the way up the estuary. There were several logs and 

 branches of fallen trees projecting into the water from the bank, 

 but the bird slipped over the logs and glided between the 

 branches with wonderful skill while continuing the chase. We 

 could see plainly that only the wings were used for propulsion, 

 the beats being by no means excessively rapid, but made with a 

 certain deliberation, as though the bird were certain of his prey 

 and had no need of undue haste. The legs were placed close 

 together in a line with the body, answering the purpose of a 

 helm. Every minute or two the bird would come to the surface 

 to breathe, sometimes just poking his bill up, then diving under 

 again ; sometimes coming up bodily and uttering the hoarse 

 " quawk" which we had heard at first, then swimming about on the 

 surface for a short space before diving, as if to take his bearings. 

 The light blue of the back showed up beautifully in the sunlight 

 while the bird was swimming in the clear shallow water close to 

 the bank, and we could discern also the edge of the white under 

 surface and the white inner margin of the paddles. 



During last winter (1909) we had a large number of calm, 

 sunny days, and frequently rowed a boat a mile or so out to sea 

 to fish from. While on these expeditions we were struck by the 

 immense numbers of Little Penguins haunting the coast; doubtless 

 they were attracted by the vast shoals of whitebait which were 

 a feature of that winter. During those sunny days the sea was 

 very clear and blue, and while gazing into its depths we could 

 discern thousands of these delicate little fish. Bearing in mind 

 the abundance of this food supply, it is not wonderful that 

 Penguins also appeared in unusual numbers. My note-book 

 shows that 4th July, 1909, was fine, with light south wind. Little 

 Penguins in great numbers on the surface of the sea off Mersey 

 Bluff, calling all round us with a hoarse "quawking" or barking 

 noise. 7th July.— Penguins making a great outcry in the waters 

 along this part of the coast. i/th July. — Penguins calling 



