220 



THE NATATOEES. 



content themselves with digging in the sand a hole deep enough 

 to contain two eggs but more often one than two. 



In spite of the limited number of eggs, the quantity of these 

 birds found in the south of Patagonia is something prodigious. 

 When sailors land in these high latitudes they take or kill as many 

 as they choose. Sir John Narborough says, speaking of those at 

 the Falkland Islands, that " when the sailors walked among the 

 feathered population to provide themselves with eggs, they were 

 regarded with sidelong glances." In many places the shores were 

 covered with these birds, and three hundred have been taken 

 within an hour ; for generally they make no effort to escape, but 



Fig. 82. The Manchot (A. Patachonica). 



stand quietly by while their companions are being knocked down 

 with sticks. 



In another islet, in the Straits of Magellan, Captain Drake's 

 crew killed more than three thousand in one day. These facts 

 are not exaggerated. This island, when visited by these navi- 

 gators, was, so to speak, virgin ; and the birds had succeeded each 

 other from generation to generation in incalculable numbers, 

 hitherto free from molestation. 



The Penguins have no fear of man. Mr. Darwin pleasantly 

 relates his encounter with one of these birds on the Falkland 

 Islands. " One day/' he says, " having placed myself between a 

 Penguin (A. demersa) and the water, I was much amused by the 



