i 9 02] EMPEROR PENGUIN HUNT 213 



ignorance of man as an enemy — yet the attitude of both seals 

 and penguins towards life is a very simple one. In the sea 

 they prey and are preyed upon, and are adapted to such a con- 

 dition ; in that element they are swift, agile, and doubtless 

 suspicious. But on the ice or on land they have never known 

 an enemy — from all time it has been sanctuary, where they can 

 mate, sleep, and rest without fear ; and so the presence of an 

 utterly unknown danger produces at first only consuming 

 curiosity, and even when a vague feeling of alarm steals on 

 their dull senses, they instinctively recoil from seeking safety in 

 the sea, where alone safety is. It is interesting to think how 

 different are the corresponding conditions in the far North, 

 where for countless years the bear and the Esquimaux have 

 ranged the floes, and the seal has become so timid that it is 

 often difficult for the traveller to get within rifle-shot. 



We found later on that the care which was taken on this 

 night to shepherd the flock of penguins together before the 

 victims were slain was quite unnecessary. So unsuspecting 

 are these birds that they will stand stupidly by, without thought 

 of flight, whilst individuals are cut out one by one from the group 

 and killed. Even the last surviving member of such a group 

 seems to remain unalarmed. 



• April 9. — We found that the Emperor penguins killed last 

 night are in splendid plumage. Many of them weighed over 

 80 lbs., and the largest turned the scale at 90 lbs. — quite a 

 record weight. Rather a touching scene occurred when four 

 or five stragglers from last night came boldly up to their dead 

 companions, evidently at a loss to understand what it all 

 meant. 



• The sea is again open up to Hut Point, and possibly the 

 inrush of cold air to the open water causes the extraordinary 

 difference of weather conditions which exist in different 

 localities within our view. Some of the hills are clear and 

 bright with sunshine, whilst others are dark with hovering 

 clouds ; at certain places it is undoubtedly calm, but at others 

 the drift snow can be seen rising in clouds and sweeping 

 furiously along. Towards Cape Bird there are heavy, low 



