NESTLING DOWN OF PENGUINS. “) 
of the hinder end of the body assume a harsh character, almost bristle-like: a 
character which may be due to adaptation to the peculiar environment in which these 
nestlings are reared. These two generations are shown in Fig. 4. 
The Nestling Down of the King Penguin. 
Unfortunately no specimens of very young King Penguins appear to have been 
obtained as yet. Doubtless when examined they will be found to show the same 
succession of down-plumage as obtains in all the other genera. 
To complete our knowledge of the nestlings of the King, and Emperor Penguins, 
very young examples of the former, and much older examples of the latter, than any 
which have yet been secured are necessary. But there seems to be little room for 
doubt that while the adults of these two species closely resemble one another, the 
nestlings thereof differ widely. In the Emperor Penguin the nestling has a black 
head and a greyish white body, while the young King Penguin is of a uniform 
dark brown. 
The King Penguin retains its down-plumage for about six months, by which 
time the bird is nearly full grown. This down is remarkable for its great length— 
being about 3 inches long—and for its superficial resemblance to long and somewhat 
coarse hair. If examined when the contour feathers are just breaking through, it will 
be found that the rami are attached in part to the tips of the rami of the main shaft 
of the contour feather, and in part to those of the after shaft. Thus they differ from 
the down of Pygoscelis, wherein the contour feather bears but few of these rami. While 
the rami are of great length the radii are short. Though they bear about ten pairs of 
fila, these cannot easily be made out except under high magnification of the microscope. 
In the nestling which formed the subject of this description pre-plumule and 
filoplumes also occurred, but I have not met with these in other genera. In this 
connection it must be recollected that this particular nestling was nearly twelve 
months old. 
The Nestling Down of the Ringed Penguin. 
The nestling of the Ringed Penguin (Pygoscelis antaretica) is described by 
Mr. W. Eagle Clarke as differing remarkably from its congeners of the same age, in 
that, when newly hatched, it is clothed in a silky-white down, except the lower part of 
the abdomen, which is partially naked. But he does not say whether this naked 
area is really larger than the similar apterion which obtains in other species. Later 
this white down is succeeded by a thick, short, fur-like coat of grey. 
The Nestling Down of the Gentoo Penguin. 
The newly-hatched chick of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) appears to 
resemble the Adélie Penguin at the same age, being clothed in a fine silky down of 
