APTENODYTES. 



ilniped, making use of the wings instead 

 of legs, till it can recover its upright 

 posture ; crying outatthe same time like 

 a goose, but in a much hoarser voice. It 

 is said to clamber some way up the rocks 

 in order to make a nest, in doing which 

 it has been observed to be assisted with 

 the bill. The eggs are 1 wo, and esteemed 

 at the Cape very delicious. 



Aptenodyteschrysocome. This beauti- 

 ful species measures twenty-three inches 

 in length. The bill is three inches long ; 

 the colour of it red, with a dark furrow 

 running along on each side to the tip ; 

 the upper mandible is curved at the end, 

 the under obtuse ; irides of a dull red ; 

 the head, neck, back, and sides are black; 

 over each eye a stripe of pale yellow fea- 

 thers, which lengthens into a crest be- 

 hind, of near four inches in length : the 

 feathers on each side of the head, above 

 this stripe, are longer than the rest, and 

 stand upward, while those of the crest are 

 decumbent, but can be erected on each 

 side at will ; the wings, or rather fins, are 

 black on the outside, edged with white ; 

 on the inside white ; the breast, and all 

 the under parts, white ; the legs are 

 orange : claws dusky. The female has a 

 streak of pale yellow over the eye, but it 

 is not prolonged into a crest behind as in 

 the male. Inhabits Falkland's Islands, 

 and was likewise met with in Kirguelin's 

 Land or Isle of Desolation, as well as at 

 Van Dicmen's Land, and New Holland, 

 particularly in Adventure Bay. Are call- 

 ed Hopping Penguinsand Jumping Jacks, 

 from their action of leaping quite: out of 

 the water, on meeting with the least ob- 

 stacle, for three or four feet at least ; and 

 indeed, withoutany seeming cause, do the 

 same frequently, appearing, chiefly to ad- 

 vance by that means. This species seems 

 to have a greater air of liveliness in its 

 countenance than others, yet is in fact a 

 very stupid bird, so much so, as to suffer 

 itself to be knocked on the head with a 

 stick, when on land. When angered, it 

 erects its crest in a beautiful manner. 

 These birds make their nests among those 

 of the pelican tribe, living in tolerable 

 harmony with them ; and lay seldom more 

 than one egg, which is white, and hu^-er 

 than that of a duck. They are mostly 

 seen by themselves, seldom mixing with 

 other penguins, and often nv.-t with in 

 great numbers on the outer shores, where 

 they have been bred. Arc frequently so 

 regardless as to suffer themselves to be 

 taken by the hand. The females of this 

 species lay their eggs in burrows, which 

 they easily form ot themselves with their 

 bills, throwing 1 out the dirt with their feet. 



In these holes the eggs are deposited on 

 the bare earth. The general time of sitting 

 is in October ; but some of the species, 

 especially in the colder parts, do not sit 

 till December, or even January. How 

 long they sit is not known. 



Aptcnodytes magellanica, inhabits the 

 Straits of Magellan, Staaten Land, Terra 

 del Fuego, and the Falkland isles ; is a 

 very numerous species, and is often seen, 

 by thousands, retiring by night to the 

 highest parts of the islands, its voice is 

 not much unlike the braying of an ass. 

 It is not a timid bird, for it will scarcely 

 get out of the way of any one ; but will 

 rather attack and bite aperson by the legs. 

 They were killed by hundreds by the 

 crews of Captain Cooke's expedition, and 

 were found not unpalatable food. They 

 often mix with the sea-wolves, among the 

 rushes, burrowing in holes like a fox. 

 When they swim, only the neck and 

 shoulders appear out of the water, and 

 they advance with such agility, that no fish 

 seems able to follow them ; if they meet 

 with any obstacle, they leap four or five 

 feet out of the water ; and dipping into it 

 again continue their rout. It is suppos- 

 ed by Latham that Penrose alludes to this 

 species, of which, he says the chief curi- 

 osity is the laying their eggs ; this they 

 do in collective bodies, resorting in in- 

 credible numbers to certain spots, which 

 their long residence has freed from grass, 

 and to which were given the name of 

 towns. The eggs arc rather larger tlwn 

 those of a goose, and are laid in pairs. 

 They lay some time in November, driving 

 away the albatrosses, which have hatched 

 their young in turn before them. 



Aptenodytes patachonica. This is the 

 largest of the genusyet known, beingfour 

 feet three inches in length ; and stands 

 erect at least three feet ; the weight forty 

 pounds. This species was first met with 

 in Falkland Islands, and has also been seen 

 in Kerguelcn's Land, New Georgia, and 

 New Guinea. M. Bougainville caught one 

 which soon became so tame as to follow 

 and know the person who had care of it; 

 it fed on flesh, fish, and bread, but after a 

 time grew lean, pined away, and died. 

 The chief food, when at large, is thought 

 to be fish; the remains of which, as well 

 as crabs, shell-fish, and molluscx, were 

 found in the stomach. This species is the 

 fattest of the tribe ; most so in January, 

 when they moult. Supposed to lay and 

 sit in October. Are met with in the most 

 deserted places. Their flesh is black, 

 though not very unpalatable. This has 

 been considered as a solitary species, but 

 has now and then been met with in conr- 



