Aves. 



133 



barefaced manner and extract the egg from underneath it. The eggs 

 took exactly thiity-one days to incubate, the temperature beneath 

 the bird being between 70° and 80° Fahr. An actual observation 

 with a thermometer placed alongside the eggs gave 72° Fahr. 



" During the period of incubation absolutely no food of any kind 

 was taken, but it was observed that large quantities of snow were 

 frequently consumed. The first young appeared on December 9th. 

 They were quaint little creatures, of a dark slatey colour, darkest 

 towards tlie head, and with dark feet, and a dark rim around the eye, 

 which, subsequentl}^ changed into the spotless white circle of the 



ADELIA PENGUINS TURNING THEIR EGGS. 

 (^Rij jKrnnssii})! of Sir George \eiimes, Bart.") 



parent bird ; they grew very rapidly, the dark legs at birth becoming, 

 in a few days, quite pink. What a spirit of homeliness, peace and 

 industry existed among them. There were no fights now. Indeed, 

 the paterfamilias was much too engrossed to think of fighting ; 

 family responsibilities rested heavily upon him. Poor fellow, he was 

 really to be pitied ; he had to work so hard to satisfy the insatiable 

 appetites of the family. Thousands and thousands of 'bread- 

 winners ' went fishing each day in the lanes of open water ; when 

 filled with Crustacea, they return and disgorge into the open mouth 

 of the youngster. This method of feeding the young was interesting. 

 The baby places its head into the open mouth of the parent and 



