Vol. XVI. 

 1916 



TuLLOCH, Macqiiarie Island Penguins. 



93 



7,000 birds. A few strays are also found amongst the various 

 rookeries round the island. There are always 15 to 20 to be 

 found in the Royal rookery at The Nuggets, but they do not breed 

 there. 



The King Penguins make no attempt at nesting. Only one egg 

 is laid, and it is held on top of the feet, between the legs, where 

 it is covered by a kind of skin pouch, and incubated there. The 

 egg is completely concealed from view, and when disturbed the 

 birds shuffle along, carrying the egg with them. The egg is about 

 twice the size of that of a Goose, pear-shaped, and of a greenish 

 colour. They are laid dining the latter part of December and 

 the beginning of January. The period of incubation is six weeks. 

 The young are covered with a woolly-looking down of dark 



King Penguins at Lusitania Bay, Macquarie Island. 



PHOTO. BY A. TULLOCH. 



greyish-brown colour, which is retained until the second year. 

 The King Penguins are the least plentiful on the island, and 

 appear to be the hardest to rear. 



Next in size come the Rock-hopper Penguins, although there 

 is very little difference between the size of these birds and the 

 Royals. The Rock-hoppers do not migrate like the other species, 

 and may be seen at the island all the year round. They have no 

 crest, and are more timid than the other species. Their clean head 

 gives them a fine, neat appearance. We found their eggs more 

 palatable than those of the other kinds, and, being the first to 

 lay, they were a welcome addition to our menu. The first eggs 

 were found on 12th September. They are globular in shape — 

 some of them look almost round — and they have a bluish tinge. 

 Like the Victorias and Royals, they usually lay two eggs — the 



