140 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. I 



shoulders gives the birds the appearance of wearing fur-capes. The 

 wings begin moulting early. 



The first young in full adult plumage were observed on February 3, 

 1916, and were easily recognized at a distance on account of their 

 grayish blue backs. Their voices at this time are still distinguishable, 

 and their waddle more pronounced than that of old birds. Yet they 

 are able to give a reluctant parent a long, hard chase in the hope of 

 getting food. They take to the water in March. 



The first sign of the postnuptial moult of the adults was on January 

 17. During the latter part of December their backs were very rusty. 

 When preening immense numbers of feathers were picked off, and in a 

 few days these discarded feathers were carried by the wind into all the 

 gulleys and depressions, luitil they seemed as if filled with snow. 

 During this moult the birds are very disreputable in appearance, and 

 stand about avoiding the water. By February 3 some had acquired 

 an entirely new dress except the tail. My observations agree with 

 Mr. Murphy's in that the rectrices are lost after the contour feathers. 



The curiosity of Gentoo Penguins has been noted by all observers. 

 One generally finds them trudging along as if on an errand of the 

 utmost importance, but they cannot resist stopping to examine any 

 object savouring of novelty. If one remains quietly seated by a 

 colony, it is but a short time before a group of these birds form a semi- 

 circle about one at a distance of only a few feet. A quick movement 

 maj'^ stampede the flock, but they soon return and doze or idle about 

 in the immediate vicinity. They do a great deal of sneezing, very 

 modest little sneezes to be sure, but they all seem to indulge frequently. 



In stretching themselves the head is thrown forward, and the wings 

 extended over the back often meet at the tips. 



The wings can be flexed to a certain degree but not nearly as much 

 as Rock-hoppers or Jackass Penguins. A Gentoo sometimes rubs its 

 head on the angle of a slightly flexed wing, but more often the same 

 result is attained by throwing the foot over, not under the wing, a 

 feat requiring, I should imagine, a steady balance. 



Contrary to Mr. Murphy's experience I found the Gentoos very 

 pugnacious among themselves. Sometimes they peck and bite ex- 

 clusively, .sometimes they depend on their wings, and often use both. 

 When one has suffered enough it runs away and is perhaps followed 

 by the victor for a few final blows. The young, as stated before, fight 

 as soon as they are able. 



.Vlthough adults very often rest In' lying flat on the ground with 

 wings close to the sides aiul feet drawn forward under the feathers, 



