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OF THE PENGUIN KIND. 



The wings of the penguin kind are totally unfitted 

 for flight, and their legs are still more awkwardly 

 adapted for walking ; for above the knee is hid within 

 the body, and nothing appears but two short legs or 

 feet, which seem to spring from under the rump. This 

 awkward position of the legs, which unqualifies them 

 for living upon land, admirably adapts them for their 

 residence in the deep, for, by being placed backwards, 

 they answer the purpose of fins, and have the power of 

 pushing the body with velocity along the stream. 



As they never visit land but when they come to 

 breed, the feathers on their breasts naturally become 

 white, whilst those which are exposed to another ele- 

 ment, according to the species, take a different hue. 



The Magellanic penguin is the largest of this tribe, 

 and, in size, approaches near to the goose ; its wings 

 are short, and covered with stiff, hard feathers, always 

 expanded, and hanging uselessly by its sides, and it is 

 incapable of taking the slightest flight. On the upper 

 part of the head, back, and rump, the feathers are all 

 perfectly black ; but those on the breast are delicately 

 white, with a line of black that runs across the crop ; 

 the bill is of the same colour, but marked across with 

 yellow stripes : they walk erect, with their heads on 

 high, their wings drooping like two arms, and at 

 a distance they look like so many children with white 

 aprons tied round their waists : in themselves may be 

 said to unjte the qualities of men, fishes, and fowls : up- 

 right, like the first; their feet acting the part of fins, 

 like the second ; and being feathered, like the third. 



Though these birds feed upon fish, their flesh is 

 thought very tolerable food by those whose appetites 



