238 



BACKBONED ANIMALS. 



and a half feet, colored dark above, the breast white, a 

 black patch in front being surrounded by two narrow 

 bands of bright orange-yellow. They congregate in bands, 

 and from a distance appear like soldiers marching upon 

 the sands. On Marion and other islands they breed 

 in vast numbers, living in well-organized communities.* 



FIG. 278. Albatrosses and penguins. 



* The cities or rookeries of the king-penguin are extremely inter^ 

 escing. They are generally upon flat ground, and divided by mound- 

 like ridges into two irregular portions. In the larger stand the old 

 birds, their beaks pointing upward, not outward, as generally figured in 

 books. The smaller area is the nursery, and in it, crowded together, 

 are the young, and breeding pairs, that are exceedingly ferocious, fiercely 

 attacking young intruding males, and sometimes killing them. The 

 young are curious-looking creatures, covered partly with down and 

 feathers, giving them a grotesque appearance. The breeders carry the 

 single egg about with them in a pouch between the legs for seven 



