FLORA AND FAUNA 



Ross Island, there is a patch of sea-ice which remains 

 in all through the winter. Here the emperor penguin 

 passes the cold dark months, and it was to obtain eggs 

 in an early stage of incubation that the "worst journey 

 in the world" (see p. 55) was undertaken. Dr. Wilson 

 found one hundred birds here, incubating their eggs, 

 in July, 191 1, and he was able to obtain three eggs, 



Fig. 32. — Emperor penguin and chick ; also Adelie 



PENGUINS pondering, ECSTATIC AND TOBOGGANING. 

 Winter and summer scenes are conjoined here. 



each containing an embryo. In July the temperature 

 at times falls to —76° P., or 108° below freezing. 

 Earlier, in 1903, Wilson had discovered that by Sep- 

 tember all the eggs were hatched and there were only 

 a few living chickens. These were perched on the 

 parents' feet and were protected by a curious feathered 

 fold or lappet which hangs down from the parents' 

 breast. When the chick is hungry or inquisitive, it 

 pokes out from under the lappet a piebald downy head, 



213 



