OF ALBATROSSES AND PENGUINS. 465 



Penguin, when she can, will rob her neighbour's. She 

 merely makes a slight hollow in the earth, just deep 

 enough to prevent her single egg rolling out ; whereas 

 the Albatross throws up a little mound of earth, grass, 

 and shells, eight or ten inches high, about the size of a 

 small water-bucket, on the top of which she sits. None 

 of their nests are ever left unoccupied for a single mo- 

 ment until the eggs are hatched, and the young ones old 

 enough to take care of themselves. The male goes to 

 sea till he has satisfied his hunger, and then returning, 

 takes the place of his mate, when she flies off for the 

 same purpose, the egg being conveyed to him by the 

 hen placing her toes* together, and rolling it towards 

 the male, the beak being used to place it properly. 



During this season the Penguins may be seen march- 

 ing round, or up and clown the pathways of this marine 

 rookery, as it may be termed, while the air is darkened 

 by thousands of Albatrosses, hovering like a cloud, 

 some continually alighting and meeting their compa- 

 nions, while others are as continually rising and shaping 

 their course towards the sea. 



Many of the birds of the two latter tribes, either from 

 their feathers, skins, oil, or eggs, are considered, as it 

 were, the standard harvest of the poor people, who, like 

 them, are destined to abide amidst the wild and lonely 

 islands of the ocean : it is, therefore, natural to suppose 

 that no means are neglected, no ingenuity left untried, 

 in providing, whether for rent, clothing, food, or the 

 lamp-light of their long and dreary Winter's nights, by 

 laying in a store of each of these important articles, for 

 which they are indebted to their companions, the sea- 

 birds. And as the risks and difficulties which they en- 

 counter, and overcome, form leading features in their 

 lives, we shall close our account with a few of the 

 hazardous and interesting details connected with the 

 reaping of this their fearful harvest. 



It is chiefly on the most rugged shores of Scotland, or 

 on the more rugged rocks of the several adjacent islands, 

 * WKDDELL'S Voyage to the South Pole, 



2 H 



