432 BREEDING PLACES. 



The next step is to clear all the ground within the space 

 from obstruction of every kind, picking up the stones in 

 their hills, and carefully conveying them outside the lines, 

 until they sometimes raise quite a little wall on three sides 

 of their space. Within the range of stones and rubbish they 

 form a pathway, six or seven feet in width, quite smooth. 

 On this path they all walk by day, and on it the sentinels 

 patrol by night. Having thus finished what may be called 

 their outworks, they next lay out the whole area in little 

 squares of equal size, formed by narrower paths, which cross 

 each other at right angles, and which are also made very 

 smooth. At each intersection of these paths, an Albatross 

 constructs her nest ; while in the centre of each little square 

 is a Penguin's nest* 



In this regular manner is the whole space taken up by 

 Penguins and Albatrosses, with the addition of a few other 

 sea-birds, which find places in unoccupied spots. But 

 although these Penguins and Albatrosses are on such inti- 

 mate terms, and appear to go on so well together, they not 

 only form very different nests, but the Penguin, when she 

 can, will rob her neighbour's. She merely makes a slight 

 hollow in the earth, just deep enough to prevent her single 

 egg rolling out; whereas the Albatross throws up a little 

 mound of earth, grass, and shells, eight or ten inches high, 

 about the size of a small water-bucket, on the top of which 

 she sits. None of their nests are ever left unoccupied for a 

 single moment until the eggs are hatched, and the young ones 

 old enough to take care of themselves. The male goes to sea 

 till he has satisfied his hunger, and then returning, takes the 

 place of his mate, when she flies off for the same purpose, 

 the egg being conveyed to him by the hen placing her toes* 

 together, and rolling it towards the male, the beak being 

 used to place it properly. 



During this season the Penguins may be seen marching 

 round, or up and down the pathways of this marine rookery, 

 as it may be termed, while the air is darkened by thousands 



* WEDDELL'S Voyage to the South Pole. 



