400 The Outline of Science 



the eye could see; within a month the colony was some three- 

 quarters of a million strong. 



The Adelie Penguin builds a large nest of stones, the only 

 material available, and the uses of this are evident when the thaw 

 comes and the ground is covered with water and slush. In this 

 nest two large eggs are laid, and one of the parents goes off to the 

 sea to feed while the other remains to incubate. The bird which 

 leaves may be away for a week or ten days, and the other may 

 therefore not break its fast for as much as four weeks in all. 



"I know of no other creature," says Mr. Herbert G. Ponting, 

 "from which man may learn a finer lesson of how resolution and 

 steadfastness may overcome every difficulty than from the Adelie 

 Penguin." Their bravery is amazing; no blizzard, however vio- 

 lent, will drive these birds from their nests in the wild Antarctic 

 regions. Mr. Ponting relates that they are found sitting on their 

 nests buried deep in the snow. Wondering where the birds had 

 disappeared to after a blizzard, he set out to investigate. "As I 

 was struggling about, wondering whether my penguin investiga- 

 tions had come to an abrupt end, I was almost 'scared out of my 

 life' by a muffled squawk, and felt something wriggling under my 

 foot. I had stepped on the back of a sitting penguin buried 

 nearly two feet deep in the snow. As the victim struggled out, 

 loudly protesting its wrath at this outrage, we were convulsed 

 with laughter; then, roused by our noisy mirth, scores of black 

 heads, with 'gollywog' eyes, suddenly protruded from the snow 

 to see what all the fuss was about. That was how we discovered 

 them! They had not deserted the place; but were attending to 

 their domestic duties under the snow patiently waiting for it to 

 blow away. There were penguins everywhere; it was impossible 

 to walk without stepping on them." 



The penguins are fond of all manner of amusements; leav- 

 ing their young under the protection of a few of the old birds, 

 most of the parents go off to disport themselves on the ice or in 

 the water. "They will string out behind a leader and make for 



