58 About the Feathered Folk. 



of the ice-floes, the low pale sun- 

 light throwing their shadows over 

 the throbbing waters, as they call to 

 one another in their harsh, discordant 

 voices. 



They are not without a weird sort 

 of beauty. 



They have white breasts, bluish 

 backs, with a handsome canary- 

 coloured streak on their heads ; their 

 strong beaks and wide feet are a 

 reddish-brown. But if their plumage 

 be handsome, not one word of praise 

 can be given either to their figures 

 or their gait. They are just as 

 clumsy as it is possible for birds to 

 be. They waddle, and run in jerks ; 

 and they carry their wings hanging 

 helplessly outward, much as a seal 

 carries his flipper-fins more in the 

 manner of arms than wings. 



In early spring-time, when the icy 

 seas are warming somewhat, and 

 the raging gales are abating in fury, 

 the Penguins resort to their land- 

 homes. They choose flat rocks in 



