ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



SIX BLACK FOOTED PENGUINS 

 pengruins are quarteretl in the pool oncf occupied by the walrus 



to baffle us in seeking relationship with other 

 groups. Today we know of six or eight species 

 either placed in tiie genus Manis, or subdi- 

 vided into still smaller groups. 



The strange appearance and mysterious noc- 

 turnal life of these animals has made them a 

 fertile source of superstition to the natives of 

 countries as widely separated as Burma, Borneo 

 and Africa. Indeed this is reflected in the gen- 

 eric word Manis which is the assumed singular 

 of manes, ghosts. A wide-spread belief tells 

 how the Pangolin lies relaxed with scales lifted, 

 near an anthill. The ants pour forth in my- 

 riads to cut up the booty so near at hand, and 

 crowd beneath the scales. The animal then 

 closes down his armature, immerses himself in 

 the nearest water, and freeing the ants, laps 

 them up as they rise to the surface ! 



The sight of a Pangolin in the day-time is 

 supposed by the natives to be extremely un- 

 lucky and is greatly regretted. The African 

 Bechuanas have the cruel custom of burning 

 these animals in their kraals to increase the 

 fertility of their cattle. Elsewhere they are 

 safe from molestation, both on account of these 

 superstitions and from the fact that their flesh 



is too infiltrated with formic acid to be palat- 

 able. Until the excessive increase of human 

 dominion and the consequent decrease of ant- 

 hills comes to pass, the race of Pangolins will 

 continue to flourish on the earth. 



THE BLACK-FOOTED PENGUIN. 



AS the seals are among mammals, so are 

 the penguins among birds. Perfectly 

 adapted for an aquatic existence, they 

 are as much out of place on land as are their 

 mammalian parallels. As the limbs of seals are 

 specialized for swimming, so are the wings of 

 penguins modified for this mode of progression. 

 On land, the penguin is at a disadvantage and 

 walks awkwardly. Usually it remains erect, 

 moving with a curious waddling gait, but when 

 closely pursued, it drojjs to the ground and. 

 aided by its flipper-like wings, is able to travel 

 more rapidly. When crossing rough ground it 

 leaps from rock to rock, balancing carefully 

 with its stumpy wings. 



In its natural element, however, the isenguin 

 is a creature transformed. It darts about with 

 incredible rapidity, so swiftly that the eye can 



