612 
NARORE, 
[AUGUST 13, T9714 
THE’ NESTING’ HABITS” OF  ADELIE 
PENGUINS (PYGOSCELIS ADEEI“»). 
HEN they arrive at the southern rookeries 
in the early spring, the penguins appear 
to be quite unattached, and pairing takes place 
during the ensuing week or two. As they spend 
the winter on the floating pack ice, far out to 
the northward, they have a journey of some 
hundreds of miles to get to their rookeries, and 
are therefore much fatigued on arrival. Conse- 
quently, many are seen to spend their first day 
or so in resting, either on the sea ice, or on the 
solid ground on which the rookery is formed. 
The hens betake themselves either to old nests, 
or else scrape little scoops in the ground, which 
they previously thaw by squatting on it for a 
preliminary squabbling, two of the band are seex 
to settle down to a serious encounter (Fig. 1), in 
which each uses his weight, ieaning his breast 
against his opponent, so that as one begins to out- 
last the other the weaker bird gets rushed out of 
the crowd, and the fight ends on some open patch 
of snow, when the victor has his enemy down, 
and hammers him until he cannot rise or beats a 
retreat. 
After this the conqueror returns to the hen, 
and as likely as not fights another of the band. 
Thus hours may be spent over the winning of a 
single hen. At length there seems to be an agree- 
ment that one of the knights has established his 
right to the lady. As a rule, it is the strongest 
and cleverest fighter of the group; but, curiously, 
| this is not always so, as sometimes the bird who 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
japon: Oe 
Fic. 1.—Two of the band in serious encounter. 
short time. They sit in these scoops, and wait 
until mates come to them. Were they not very 
jealous of one another, the cocks might easily 
get mated and start domestic life without any 
trouble. Unfortunately, however, the jealousy 
which characterises the animal kingdom in general 
when engaged in matrimony, is ingrained in the 
character of the Adélie cock in its most violent 
form, so that bands of these little warriors are to 
be seen all over the rookery, watching each 
other’s every movement, and hindering one an- 
other in their quest for wives. As soon as one 
of their number approaches a hen, one or more 
of his companions sails in at him, and a desperate 
battle takes place, each bird raining in blows with 
his powerful “flippers,” and fighting with the 
most indomitable bravery. As a rule, after some 
NOm23.373) VOW: 
93 | 
has undoubtedly proved himself the victor sud- 
denly walks off, and by general consent his van- 
His troubles are not yet ended, as the hen has 
yet to make up her mind that she will have him. 
His first overture very often takes the form of an 
offering in the shape of a pebble for the nest. 
| This he lays in front of her, and it may suffice; 
| but often it does not, and she responds by peck- 
ing him furiously, whilst he hunches himself up, 
with closed eyes, making not the least resistance 
nor any attempt to evade the onslaught. 
When she desists, he rises and sidles up to 
her, arching his neck and looking very pretty 
and graceful. in his efforts to ingratiate himself. 
Then perhaps both have some sort of argument, 
facing one another, their heads stretched upwards 
quished opponent is left in possession of the field. 
