THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 93 



"In one part of the island," (Akaroe), says Professor 

 Hooker, "where there is a considerable quantity of rich 

 loose mould, the puffins breed in vast numbers, forming 

 holes three feet below the surface resembling rabbit 

 burrows, at the bottom of which they lay a single white 

 egg, about the size of that of the lapwing, upon the bare 

 earth. Our people dug out about twenty of these birds, 

 which they afterwards assured me made an excellent sea- 

 pie." If the puffin, however, is really a robber of rabbit 

 burrows, it is too formidably armed to allow of retaliation 

 with impunity, and few birds or beasts venture to attack it 

 in its retreat. 



The Penguin (Aptenodytes patachonica) is still more like 

 a kangaroo than the last-named, on account of its having 

 no quill feathers in its wings, or, rather, arms ; while it is 

 so large that it has, as well as the albatross, obtained from 

 our sailors the name of the Cape sheep. But, though its 

 bill, which is long and narrow, seems less strong for 

 digging than that of the puffin, it contrives to form extensive 

 burrows in the desolate islands which it frequents. Sir 

 Francis Drake says the French called them toads, from 

 their creeping into holes underground ; and Van Noort 

 tells us that they make the holes themselves, as the rabbits 

 do. They select for nestling a sandy plain or down, where 

 they usually congregate in such numbers as everywhere 

 to undermine the ground, so that in walking it is not 

 unusual to sink up to the knees ; but, if the penguin chances 

 to be at home, she revenges herself upon the passenger 

 who has destroyed her roof by fastening upon his legs and 

 biting him severely. 



Another species of these birds, called the Cape Penguin 

 (Aptenodytes demersa), smaller than the preceding, makes 

 its nest among brambles, scraping in the sand and forming 

 a hole, in which it lurks so closely that in passing along it 

 is not readily perceived, though the traveller soon receives 

 no very friendly notice to quit the premises by the penguin 

 biting his legs with her formidable bill. They are also 

 known to nestle on the islets along the southern coasts of 



