PENGUINS. 545 



conspicuous in the recesses of a dense mass of reeds. The larger grebes are much 

 hunted for the sake of the beautiful silky plumage of the breast ; and on the Lake 

 of Geneva it is customary in autumn to make up boating-parties, for the pui-pose 

 of shooting the great crested species. 



The TMck-BiUed The thick-billed, pied-billed, or Carolina grebe {Fodilymhus 



Grebe. 'podiceps), which is an exclusively American form, clearly represents 

 a distinct genus, characterised by the shortness and stoutness of the beak, in 

 which the length is less than twice the basal depth. The much arched beak is 

 parti-coloured; the length of the metatarsus is less than that of the third toe 

 without the claw ; and the head is not tufted, although the throat is ornamented 

 with a black patch. This grebe inhabits temperate North America and the West 

 Indies, as well as the whole of Central and the greater part of South America. 



The Penguins. 



Order Impennes. 



Approximating to the diving -birds (to which they also present certain 

 resemblances in the structure of their soft internal parts) in the backward position 

 of their short legs and their upright posture when on land, the penguins of the 

 Southern Hemisphere differ from all other members of the class in two important 

 structural features. In the first place, the wings, in which 

 the quills are rudimentary, are transformed into paddles ; and, 

 in the second, the short metatarsus is of great width, with 

 its three longitudinal elements incompletely fused together, 

 and separated from one another by small foramina. Conse- 

 quently, these birds can scarcely be said to have a true cannon- 

 bone. As regards their skulls, the penguins agree with the 

 other birds treated in this chapter in having the palate of the 

 cleft (schizognathous) type ; and there are also hollows on the 

 forehead for the reception of jjlands. The feathers are pro- 



^ *= , . ■"• EIGHT METATARSAL BONK 



vided with after-shafts, and the spinal feather-tract is not of the yellow- 

 defined on the neck, while the oil-gland is tufted. The young, crowned penguin. 



although born covered with down, are at first helpless, and 



require to be tended for a long period in the nest. In addition to the rudimentary 

 condition of the wing-quills, there are also no functional tail-feathers; and it is 

 very noteworthy that the rudimental scale-like feathers with which the wings are 

 covered are more numerous than the quills and wing-coverts of any other birds. 

 As additional characters of the skeleton, it may be mentioned that the blade-bone 

 or scapula is remarkable for its great breadth, while the bones of the wings 

 are flattened ; the humerus, which has no process on the outer side of its lower 

 extremity, being very short. In habits the penguins are marine and carnivorous. 



The general appearance of these birds is so well-known that it will be 

 unnecessary to say much on this point. We may mention, however, that the beak 

 is more or less elongated and straight, with its sides compressed and grooved, and 

 its tip sharply pointed; the slit-like nostrils being situated within the lateral 



VOL. IV. — 35 



