BREEDING-PLACES. 



431 



Penguins. 



tion of the grand purpose for which, they are then and there 

 assembled. In the first place, they select* as level a piece of 

 ground as they can find, often comprising four or five acres, 

 and as near the water as possible, always preferring that 

 which is least encumbered with stones and other hard sub- 

 stances, which might endanger their eggs. As soon as they 

 are satisfied on this point, they proceed to lay out the plan 

 of their intended encampment ; which task they commence 

 by tracing a well-defined oblong, large enough to accommo- 

 date the whole united parties. One side of this square runs 

 parallel with the water's edge, and is always left open for 

 coming in and going out ; the other three sides are differently 

 arranged. 



* See MORRITT'S Voyages. 



