WATER-FOWL. 2<T< 



CHAPTER VIJ. 



O*' THE PENGUIN KIND : AND FIRST, OF THE GRF VT MAGELLAN If 

 PENGUIN. 



THE gulls are long-winged, swift flyers, that hover over the most 

 extensive seas, and dart down upon such fish as approach too near 

 the surface. The penguin kind are but ill fitted for flight, and ?till 

 less for walking. Every body must have seen the awkward manner 

 in which a duck, either wild or tame, attempts to change place: they 

 must recollect with what softness and ease a gull or a kite waves its 

 pinions, and with what a coil and flutter the duck attempts to move 

 them ; how many strokes it is obliged to give, in order to gather a 

 little air ; and even when it is thus raised, how soon it is fatigued with 

 the force of its exertions, and obliged to take rest again. But the 

 duck is not, in its natural state, half so unwieldy an animal, as the 

 whole tribe of the penguin kind. Their wings are much shorter, 

 more scantily furnished with quills, and the whole pinion placed too 

 forward to be usefully employed. For this reason, the largest of the 

 penguin kind, that have a thick heavy body to raise, cannot fly at all. 

 Their wings serve them rather as paddles to help them forward, when 

 v ey attempt to move swiftly, and in a manner walk along the surface 

 of the water. Even the smallest kinds seldom fly by choice ; thej 

 flutter their wings with the swiftest efforts without making way ; and 

 though they have but a small weight of body to sustain, yet they sel- 

 dom venture to quit the water, where they are provided with food and 

 protection. 



As the wings of the penguin tribe are unfitted for flight, their legs 

 are still more awkwardly adapted for walking. This whole tribe have 

 all above the knee hid within the belly : and nothing appears but two 

 short legs, or feet, as some would call them, that seem stuck under 

 the rump, and upon which the animal is very awkwardly supported. 

 They seem, when sitting, or attempting to walk, like a dog that has 

 been taught to sit up, or to move a minuet. Their short legs drive 

 the body in progression from side to side ; and were they not assist- 

 ed by their wings, they could scarcely move faster than a tortoise. 



This awkward position of the legs, which so disqualifies them for 

 living upon land, adapts them admirably for a residence in water. In 

 that, the legs, placed behind the moving body, pushes it forward with 

 the greater velocity ; and these birds, like Indian canoes, are the 

 swiftest in the water, by having their paddles in the rear. Our sailors, 

 for this reason, give these birds the very homely, but expressive, name 

 of arse-feet. 



Nor are they less qualified for diving than swimming. By ever so 

 little inclining their bodies forward, they lose their centre of gravity: 



