114 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS II. AVES. 
Famity Cotympip. Tue Loons anp Divers. 
These birds excel all others in diving, and their powers of swimming, and 
their endurance while submerged, are wonderful: their food consists of fish, 
which they pursue and capture while beneath the water. They frequent the 
fresh and salt water, and breed in the high latitudes. They nest on the 
ground, usually on some small island, and lay two or three eggs, which are 
not large for the size of the bird. Most species perform migrations, while 
one or two remain in northern localities through the winter. 
Famity Autcipm. Tne Aus, GuILLEemots, AND Purrrys. 
These birds are strictly oceanic birds, scarcely ever leaving the water, 
except for the purposes of incubation. They breed in communities in cav- 
erns and on rocky cliffs, laying one, two, or three large egos. Some species 
dig burrows for the purpose of nesting, and others are said to oceupy the 
burrows of rabbits and ‘other small mammals. Their food, which they 
obtain by diving (an operation in which they are materially assisted by their 
wines, as well as by their feet), consists of small fishes, crustaceans, and 
other marine animals. The young are said to be fed from the crops of their 
parents, not only before they are able to leave the place of their birth, but 
also for some time afterwards. The breeding-places of these birds are fre- 
quently visited by eggers and fishermen, and the numbers of eggs, and the 
umount of feathers which they obtain, is surprisingly large. 
Faminry APTenopyTip.&. THe PEencurns. 
In these birds the wing is almost wanting, being merely rudimentary : 
they seem to replace, in the southern hemisphere, the auks, which occur in 
the northern, They associate in immense numbers, and their breeding- 
places cover acres in extent. Sir John Narborough says of the Patagonian 
Penguins, that their erect attitude, and their bluish-black backs, contrasted 
with their white bellies, might cause them to be taken at a distance for 
young children with white bibs. The -towns of these birds at the Falkland 
Islands have attracted particular attention. Sonie of these assemblies are 
described as giving a dreary, not to say awful, impression of the desolation 
of the place, and the utter absence of the human race. In some of the 
towns it is stated there is a general stillness, and when intruders walk among 
the feathered population, they are regarded with sidelong glances, but seem 
to carry no terror with them. In many places the shores are covered with 
them, and hundreds haye been taken in an hour. The females hatch the 
eges by keeping them close between their thighs; and if approached during 
incubation, are said to move away, carrying their eggs with them. 
