202 PENGUINS. [chap. ix. 



like these "streams of stones," so forcibly convey to my 

 mind the idea of a convulsion, of which in historical records 

 we might in vain seek for any counterpart ; yet the progress 

 of knowledge will probably some day give a simple explana- 

 tion of this phenomenon, as it already has of the so long- 

 thought inexplicable transportal of the erratic boulders, 

 which are strewed over the plains of Europe. 



I have little to remark on the zoology of these islands. 

 I have before described the carrion-vulture or Polyhorus. 

 There are some other hawks, owls, and a few small land- 

 birds. The water-fowl are particularly numerous, and they 

 must formerly, from the accounts of the old navigators, have 

 been much more so. One day I observed a cormorant 

 playing with a fish which it had caught. Eight times 

 successively the bird let its prey go, then dived after it, 

 and although in deep water, brought it each time to the 

 surface. In the Zoological Gardens I have seen the otter 

 treat a fish in the same manner, much as a cat does a 

 mouse : I do not know of any other instance where dame 

 Nature appears so wilfully cruel. Another day, having 

 placed myself between a penguin {Aptenodytes demersd) and 

 the water, I was much amused by watching its habits. 

 It was a brave bird ; and till reaching the sea, it regularly 

 fought and drove me backwards. Nothing less than heavy 

 blows would have stopped him ; every inch he gained he 

 firmly kept, standing close before me erect and determined. 

 When thus opposed he continually rolled his head from 

 side to side, in a very odd manner, as if the power of distinct 

 vision lay only in the anterior and basal part of each eye. 

 This bird is commonly called the jackass penguin, from its 

 habit, while on shore, of throwing its head backwards, and 

 making a loud strange noise, very like the braying of an 

 ass ; but while at sea, and undisturbed, its note is very 

 deep and solemn, and is often heard in the night-time. In 

 diving, its little wings are used as fins ; but on the land, as 

 front legs. When crawling, it may be said on four legs, 

 through the tussocks or on the side of a grassy cliff, it 

 moves so very quickly that it might easily be mistaken for 

 a quadruped. When at sea and fishing, it comes to the 

 surface for the purpose of breathing with such a spring, 

 and dives again so instantaneously, that I defy any one at 

 first sight to be sure that it was not a fish leaping for sport. 



Two kinds of grease frequent the Falklands. The upland 



