T H E P E N G U I N. 123 



tach almoft bare of feathers, and. only having fome fliort feathery beards. 

 They are prolongations of the two middle feathers of the tail, which is, 

 except thcfe, very fhort, and fcarce perceptible. Thefe Ihafts are fome- 

 tirhes two feet long; they are moulted ; and the inhabitants of Ocaheite, 

 &c. form ornaments of them for the cafques of their warriors ; while the 

 Caribbees pais them through the Jeptum of the nofe, either to increafe 

 their beauty, or their terror. 



This bird fcarce can move on land. There are various fizes ; fome 

 lefs than a pigeon, fpottcd v/ith black on the wing-feathers next the 

 body J a kind of horfe-fhoe mark over the eye. Some have red fhafts, 

 fome have little (breaks of black acrofs the back. 



THE PENGUIN, KIND 



AR E ill fitted for flight, and worfc for walking. Their wings are 

 fliort, fcantily furnilhed with quills, and the pinion placed too for- 

 ward, to be ufefully employed. For this reafon, the largeft of the pen- 

 guin kind, with thick, heavy bodies, cannot fly at all. Their wings ferve 

 them rather as paddles, when they attempt to move fwiftly ; and in a 

 manner walk along the furface of the water. Even the fmaller kinds fel- 

 dom fly by choice. Their legs are fl:ill more aukwardly adapted for walk- 

 ing, all above the knee being hid within the-belly ; and nothing appears 

 but two ftiort legs fl^ck under the rump, upon which the animal is very 

 aukwardly fupported. Their fliort legs drive the body in progrefljon 

 from fide to fide; and were they not afliflied by their wings, they could 

 fcarcely move fafter than a tortoife ; but this pofition of the legs adapts 

 them admirably for a refidence in water ; and thefe birds, like Indian 

 canoes, are the fwifteft in the water, by having their paddles in the rear. 

 Nor are they lefs qualified for diving; for by ever fo little inclining their 

 bodies forward, they lofe their center of gravity, and every fl:roke from 

 their feet tends to fink them the fafl:er. In this manner they dive at once 

 to the bottom, or fwim between two waters, where they continue fifliing 

 for fome minutes, and then afcending, catch an inftantaneous breath to 

 defcend again to their operations. If they perceive themfeives purfued, 

 they infl:antly fink, and fnew nothing more than their bills. Their lungs 

 are fitted with numerous vacuities, by which they can take in a very large 

 infpiration ; and this probably lerves them for a length of time. 



Of 



