270 BREEDING-PLACES-. 



intersection of these paths, an Albatross constructs 

 her nest, while in the centre of each little square is 

 a Penguin's nest. 



In this regular manner is the whole space taken 

 up hy Penguins and Albatrosses, with the addition 

 of a few other sea-birds, which find places in unoc- 

 cupied spots. But although these Penguins and 

 Albatrosses are on such intimate terniSj and appear 

 to go on so well together, they not only form very 

 different nests, but the Penguin, when she can, will 

 rob her neighbour's. She merely makes a slight 

 hollow in the earth, just deep enough to prevent 

 her single egg rolling out; whereas the Albatross 

 throws up a little mound of earth, grass, and shells, 

 eight or ten inches high, about the size of a small 

 water-bucket, on the top of which she sits. None 

 of their nests are ever left unoccupied for a single 

 moment, until the eggs are hatched, and the young 

 ones old enough to take care of themselves. The 

 male goes to sea till he has satisfied his hunger, and 

 then returning, takes the place of his mate, when she 

 flies off for the same purpose; the egg being con- 

 veyed to him by the hen placing her toes""" together, 

 and rolling it towards the male, the beak being used 

 to place it properly. 



During this season, the Penguins may be seen 

 marching round, or up and down the pathways of 

 this marine rookery, as it may be termed, while the 

 air is darkened by thousands of Albatrosses, hover- 

 ing like a cloud, some continually alighting and 

 meeting their companions, while others are as con- 

 stantly rising and shaping their course towards the sea. 



* Weddell's Voyage to the South Pole. 



