brooks: FALKLAND ISLAND BIRDS. 143 



ElDVI'lKS NKMUVKSIIS (loilKl. 



Kock-lioppcr I'('i)<;uin; " llocky ". 



This is an abundant hirfl on tliese islanris. 



My first introduction to this interesting^ species was at the Gentoo 

 colony at Port Stepiiens, where previously I had often seen Jackass 

 Penguins making short furtive tours of inspection. On this (hiy I 

 noticed in a casual way what I took to be a small immature bird of this 

 species until attracted by its extraordinary means of locomotion; a 

 series of jumps for all the world like a man running a sack-race, but 

 bouncing along with such rapidity that 1 had no little difficulty in 

 secm"ing it before it reached the water's edge. 



Several others were occasionally seen at the same place. When not 

 alarmed or in a great hurry they were walking, leaning forward and 

 lifting the feet higii in an uncertain manner as do Jackass Penguins; 

 neither having the l)alance and confident gait of the Gentoo. Rock- 

 hoppers usually ha\e the head thrust forward giving them a guilty, 

 hang-dog expression, the crests and sleek black backs rendering them 

 very uncanny and implike. At times they progress with a rolling 

 hr)ppity-hop gait. When one of these birds is hopping about, espe- 

 cially with that degree of energy stimulated by great fear, it thrusts 

 its head forward and downward on landing squarely on l)oth feet 

 simultaneously, and, immediately throwing its head up, the body 

 straightens and it seems to bounce off the ground for another leap, 

 continuing with a rapidity of progress that is astounding. 



No opportunity to visit a colony could be had until it was too late 

 in the summer to obtain any data as to breeding hal)its. The most 

 surprising feature was how any bird lacking \olant powers could 

 reach the very top of the jagged cliff occupied by the colony. They 

 seem to enjoy struggling to the most inaccessible places. Their toes, 

 imlike those of Jackass or Gentoo Penguins, are very flexible and pre- 

 hensile; these failing they often have bad falls, though by bearing 

 down with the bill and wings they save themselves and slowly crawl 

 to a better footing. A hard drop of several feet does not les.sen the 

 bird's courage, on the contrary it appears to augment its determination. 

 They can leap across surprisingly wide crevices, although I found one 

 bird at the bottom of a deep crevice from which I was uiudile to rescue 

 it, and where it undoubtedly starved. 



The landing-place looked very difficult, the penguins l>eing forced 



