348 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



work of an instant or performed whilst the bird was 

 making a hurried retreat from its nest. 



The iris is dirty brown ; the bill black except the tip, 

 which is whitish horn-colour ; the angle of the mouth is 

 pale greenish yellow ; the legs and toes are dusky livid, 

 with a greenish tinge near the tarsal joint. 



Measurements of a female : 



in. lin. 



Entire length 80 



Length of folded wing 38 



tarsus 12 



middle toe 18 



tail 13 



bill 11 



SPHENISCIRflE. 



401. SpheniSCUS demersilS, Linn. South-African Penguin. 



Le Manchot du Cap de Bonne-Esperance, Buffon's Planches Enl. 



pi. 382, vol. x. p. 219. 

 Spheniscus demersa, Layard's Cat. No. 695. 

 Spheniscus demersus, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 10790. 



This is the only description of Penguin found on the 

 south-west coast of Africa ; but if this coast-line lacks 

 variety in this genus, the deficiency is in some measure 

 compensated by the great abundance of this particular 

 species, which is found on almost all parts of the coast 

 from the Cape of Good Hope to Walwich Bay. How 

 much further it may extend to the north I cannot say. 



This species is known to sea-faring men as the " Jackass 

 Penguin;" and its most favourite resorts are the Ichaboe, 

 Mercury, Hollanis-bird, and Possession islands. 



Next to the Gannet it is the most valuable depositor 



