394 HISTORY OF 



up in rank and file, upon the ledge of a rock, 

 standing together with the albatross, as if in con- 

 sultation. This is previous to their laying, which 

 generally begins in that part of the world in the 

 month of November. Their preparations for lay- 

 ing are attended with no great trouble, as a small 

 depression in the earth, without any other nest, 

 serves for this purpose. The warmth of their fea- 

 thers and the heat of their bodies is such, that the 

 progress of incubation is carried on very rapidly. 

 But there is a difference in the manner of this 

 bird's nestling in other countries, which I can 

 only ascribe to the frequent disturbances it has 

 received from man or from quadrupeds in its 

 recesses. In some places, instead of contenting 

 itself with a superficial depression in the earth, 

 the penguin is found to burrow two or three yards 

 deep : in other places it is seen to forsake the 

 level, and to clamber up the ledge of a rock, 

 where it lays its egg, and hatches in that bleak, 

 exposed situation. These precautions may pro- 

 bably have been taken in consequence of dear- 

 bought experience. In those countries where 

 the bird fears for her own safety, or that of her 

 young, she may providentially provide against 

 danger, by digging, or even by climbing ; for 

 both which she is but ill adapted by nature. In 

 those places, however, where the penguin has 

 had but few visits from man, her nest is made, 

 with the most confident security, in the middle 

 of some large plain, where they are seen by thou- 

 sands. In that unguarded situation, neither ex- 

 pecting nor fearing a powerful enemy, they con- 



