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power of diving, and the faculty of remaining under water for a considerable 

 time, is too remarkable a characteristic of this bird to be passed over without 

 notice. 



No. 104. — Spheniscus minor, Forst. 

 Korora. 

 Small Penguin. 



One of our commonest sea-fowl ; and certainly a frequent burrower in 

 its mode of niditication. 



We have found the Penguin breeding every year, in the inner chamber 

 of a deep cave, perfectly dark ; a hollow, scraped out of the sandy bottom of 

 the cavern, half filled with fish bones, formed the nesting-place, in which the 

 eggs were deposited. We have always found two eggs, as the complement of 

 the Little Penguin. 



The eggs are white and very smooth, but soon become stained ; they are 

 broadly oval, and measure, through the axis, 2 inches 2 lines, with a diameter 

 of 1 inch 9 lines. The old birds defend their nests with great spirit, using 

 beak and claws most vigorously, making at the same time a noise not unlike 

 the mewing of a cat. 



We have observed these birds breeding during the months of November, 

 December, and January. Th<y breed in great numbers amongst crevices of 

 rocks ; in sa,nd-banks, their tunnels are bored with great neatness, with a run 

 frequently extending a considerable distance. The entrance generally exhibits 

 a perfectly round hole, about three or four inches in diameter-, and from whence 

 is diffused a most powerful odour. The young, we have found in the nest 

 when nearly full-grown ; their slatey-bluish plumage is blighter than that of the 

 parent birds. We have an egg, very much encrusted, showing a departure from 

 their usual appearance, which is usually as white and smooth as that of the 

 domestic fowl. In retreating to the sea, its action is peculiar, walking it can 

 scarce be called, it appears to throw the whole body forward, and shuffles along 

 with an undulating motion, which gives the Penguin more the appearance of a 

 large grey rat than that of a bird. 



No. 126. — Larus dominicanus, Licht. 

 Kororo. 

 Grey Gull, Black-backed Gull, Large Gull. 



Our larger Gull breeds on the sea-shore, upon the sandy spits in the river- 

 beds. The rough-looking nest is large, usually made of grass, sometimes of small 

 tussocks pulled up by the roots. We have noticed these birds visiting the 

 breeding-ground early in August, but have not seen the eggs till some weeks 

 later, apparently these must have been visits of inspection, when they busied 

 themselves about the nests in rather a clamorous manner for several days in 

 succession. The eggs, two or three to a nest, are ovoiconical, measuring 

 2 inches 10 lines in length, by 1 inch 10 lines in width. The colour varies 

 from shades of bght-grey to brown, covered, more or less, with grey and brown 

 marks and blotches. The young are well covered with grey down at first, they 

 assume, gradually, a mottled-brown plumage, the bill still dark, presenting a 

 marked contrast to adult birds. The parent birds defend their nest with great 

 spirit, a pair will chive away, and give chase to, a Harrier. Their olfactory 

 organ must be most acute, as they find out the carcase of a dead sheep or 

 bullock with great readiness. 



We have often been amused by watching their grotesque action in 

 following a retreating wave, where the sea has rolled in heavily on the inclined 

 sandy beach. A number of these Gulls wait till the wave has just expended 



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