238 THE OCEAN. 



in walking often sinks up to the knees; and if the 

 Penguin chance to be in her hole, she revenges her- 

 self on the passenger by fastening on his legs, which 

 she bites very hard. 



The following notices of these singular birds, by 

 those who have seen them in their haunts, are inte- 

 resting, as illustrative of their economy: — "One day," 

 says Mr. Darwin, "having placed myself between 

 a Penguin and the water, I was much amused by 

 watching its habits. It was a brave bird; and, till 

 reaching the sea, it regularly fought and drove me 

 backwards. Nothing less than heavy blows would 

 have stopped him; every inch gained he firmly kept, 

 standing close before me, erect and determined. 

 When thus opposed, he continually rolled his head 

 from side to side in a very odd manner, as if the 

 .power of vision lay only in the anterior and basal 

 part of each eye. This bird is commonly called the 

 Jackass Penguin, from its habit, while on shore, of 

 throwing its head backwards, and making a loud 

 strange noise, very like the braying of that animal; 

 but while at sea and undisturbed, its note is very 

 deep and solemn, and is often heard in the night- 

 time. In diving, its little plumeless wings are used 

 as fins; but on the land, as front legs. When crawl- 

 ing (it may be said on four legs) through the tus- 

 socks, or on the side of a grassy clilT, it moved so 

 very quickly that it might readily have been mis- 

 taken for a quadruped. When at sea and fishing, 

 it comes to the surface for the purpose of breathing, 

 with such a spring, and dives again so instantane- 

 ously, that I defy any one at first sight to be sure 



