THE PENGUIN. 201 



These birds are said to be like men, like fowls, and 

 like fishes. Like men, they walk upright ; like fowls, 

 they are clothed with feathers ; and like fishes, they 

 paddle themselves along with their wings instead of 

 fins. 



The Penguins live on fish, and are exceed- 

 ingly expert divers, as well as swimmers. The 

 position of their legs, which renders them so awkward 

 on the land, are admirably adapted to their residence 

 in the water. 



On the land, no creature can be more defenceless, 

 for they have neither arms to fight with, nor legs to 

 run away. But in the water, no bird is more difficult 

 to approach, or more difficult to shoot when near. 

 If they suspect, that they are in the least the objects 

 of pursuit, they instantly sink into the water, so as to 

 shew nothing but their bills, and if the pursuit is con- 

 tinued, they dive, and come up at such a distance as 

 entirely to escape being seen again. 



The nest of the Penguin is made according to her 

 circumstances, or the danger to which she is exposed. 

 In places where she does not fear the intrusion of 

 man, her eggs are hatched on the sand, without the 

 preparation of a nest. But in places which are fre- 

 quented by men, she digs a hole several feet deep 

 into the earth on the side of a bank, arid in it builds 

 her nest. In the work of digging, it is said they join 

 and assist each other, and that when it is done, several 

 of them hatch their young in one nest, each laying a 

 single egg. 



The flesh of this bird, though very fat, is so fishy, 



and disagreeable to the taste, as never to be eaten. 



18* 



