THE PACIFIC OCEAX. 235 



which at last forced him to retire into the water, 

 snarling with an ugly noise, and showing his long 

 teeth."* 



Dividing the dominion of these inhospitable islands 

 with the Seals, may be seen myriads of Penguins; 

 curious birds, which seem to be the link which con- 

 nects the feathered with the finny race. Their 

 little wings, destitute of quills, but covered with stiff 

 scaly feathers, hang down by their sides, perfectly 

 incompetent to lift them from the ground, resem- 

 bling in shape the fins of a fish, or still more the 

 flippers of a turtle. But see the Penguin in the 

 water ; the deficiency of flight is abundantly com- 

 pensated by the power and agility it possesses in 

 this element: it dashes along over the surface in 

 gallant style, or diving, shoots through the water 

 with the rapidity of a fish, urging its course by the 

 united action of its finny wings and its broad 

 webbed feet; then, coming again to the top, leaps 

 over any obstacle in its course, many feet at a bound, 

 and pursues its way. On the sandy shores or flat 

 rocks in the Southern Ocean, the Penguins, of several 

 species, assemble in innumerable multitudes, for the 

 purpose of hatching their eggs and rearing their 

 young. The feet are placed very far back on the 

 body, so that the bird assumes an erect position when 

 resting or walking on land ; and from their posture, 

 their colours, their numbers, and their orderly ar- 

 rangement, they have been compared, when seen at a 

 distance, to an army of disciplined soldiers. One voy- 

 ager likens them to a troop of little children standing 



* Kerr's Voyages, x. 374, 



