464 BREEDING-PLACES 



mentioned in the preceding pages, to pass a day or two 

 in deliberation; on concluding the consultation, they 

 proceed to the execution of the grand purpose for which 

 they are then and there assembled. In the first place, 

 they select* as level a piece of ground as they can find, 

 often comprising four or five acres, and as near the 

 water as possible, always preferring that which is least 

 encumbered with stones and other hard substances, 

 which might endanger their eggs. As soon as they are 

 satisfied on this point, they proceed to lay out the plan 

 of their intended encampment ; which task they com- 

 mence by tracing a well-defined oblong, large enough to 

 accommodate the whole united parties. One side of 

 this square runs parallel with the water's edge, and is 

 always left open for coming in and going out ; the other 

 three sides are differently arranged. 



The next step is to clear all the ground within the 

 space from obstruction of every kind, picking up the 

 stones in their bills, and carefully conveying them out- 

 side the lines, until they sometimes raise quite a little 

 wall on three sides of their space. Within the range of 

 stones and rubbish they form a pathway, six or seven 

 feet in width, quite smooth. On this path they all walk 

 by day, and on it the sentinels patrol by night. Having 

 thus finished what may be called their outworks, they 

 next lay out the whole area in little squares of equal 

 size, formed by narrower paths, which cross each other 

 at right angles, and which are also made very smooth. 

 At each intersection of these paths, an Albatross con- 

 structs her nest ; while in the centre of each little square 

 is a Penguin's nest. 



In this regular manner is the whole space taken up 

 by Penguins and Albatrosses, with the addition of a few 

 other sea-birds, which find places in unoccupied spots. 

 But although these Penguins and Albatrosses are on 

 such intimate terms, and appear to go on so well toge- 

 ther, they not only form very different nests, but the 

 * See MORBITT'S Voyages. 



