Manchester Memoirs^ Vol. xlviii. (1904), No. 33- 1/ 



experimented on by the gallant captain must have been a 

 different species to those frequentingf the Falklands. 



On descending to the ' Rockhopper ' rookery, we 

 found it to be very similar to those visited during the 

 morning, only the birds appeared to be more numerous, 

 this perhaps being due to the absence of the Tussac 

 grass. A small stream of fresh water ran through the 

 centre of this rookery, and roughly divided it into two 

 parts. On descending the face of this chff, by following 

 the narrow path made by these birds to the beach, we 

 came to a boulder-strewn cove, at one end of which a 

 sloping rock, many thousands of tons in weight, sloped 

 gradually to the water's edge. Here we rested, and 

 watched for some time the Rockhoppers returning from 

 their feeding-grounds. There was a light breeze blowing 

 into this recess, and so these birds had to watch for a 

 smooth interval between the waves before attempting to 

 land. Suddenly numbers of heads would appear popping 

 up from the water about fifty yards from the rocks ; then, 

 without any warning, a number of Penguins would sud- 

 denly shoot out of the sea on this rock just after a wave 

 had broken, and scramble up the slippery surface out of 

 harm's way as fast as possible ; the rudimentary wings 

 being used for balancing. But for some of them the 

 danger was not over. Some birds would miss their foot- 

 hold, and stagger about on the slippery rock ; others 

 would stand still, apparently dazed, as if the sudden 

 change from an aquatic life to a terrestial one was too 

 much for them. All these birds would be immediately 

 swept away by the following wave, and probably be 

 knocked against the rocks. The behaviour of one 

 Penguin amused me greatly. He had evidently made 

 several attempts to land unsuccessfully, and so was tired ; 

 at last he managed to scramble up, as he thought, out of 



