294 IMPENNES. 



fled much as that of the flippers of the Whales and Porpoises, the bones being flattened and 

 so jointed as to allow very little motion at the elbow and wrist. The poUex or first digit is 

 fused into the others. The legs are very short, and the feet have three principal toes turned 

 forwards and webbed and a small pendent hind toe. 



The Penguins, though totally unable to fly, are expert swimmers and divers. They feed 

 entirely on fish and other marine animals. In breeding time they congregate in vast numbers 

 upon the desolate shores near which they habitually dwell, forming a rude nest of grass upon 

 the ground in which they lay two white or greenish-white eggs (4-85 x 3-25). Though closely 

 resembling each other anatomically, they present considerable external differences in the form 

 of the bill and the decorative tufts on the head. By these characters they have been divided 

 into five genera containing eighteen species. (N.H.M.) 



The genus Aptenodyies. With both mandibles long and curved downwards towards the tip. 

 Tail of twenty feathers. Two species, viz. — 



A. fosteri. 48". Weight 60 to 90 lbs. The Emperor Penguin. Basal part of lower 

 mandible (flesh colour) partially concealed by feathers. Crown, cheeks, chin, and throat black. 

 Above bluish green, each feather with dark base and a bluish-white subterminal spot. Fore- 

 neck and below white, black of throat meeting white of foreneck in a concave semicircle- 

 Yellow semicircular patch on each side of head, shading into white on side of the neck, which 

 is partially divided by a black shoulder-patoh. Feet black. Immature and young birds want 

 the yellow patch on side of the head ; the back is darker and more regularly spotted ; the 

 shoulder-patches are wanting. Antarctic shores. 



A. patagonicus. 36". The King Penguin. With basal part of lower mandible (flesh 

 colour) bare. Black of throat ending in a point on foreneck and margined on each side by 

 orange-yellow bands which connect the orange-yellow patches on sides of the head with that 

 of the lower foreneck. General colour as in A. fosteri. Feet black. Nestling covered with 

 brown down. From Straits of Magellan to New Zealand isles, 40° to 60° S. lat. 



' ' King Penguins, like the Eoyals, have only one egg. They have no nest whatever, and 

 manage the hatching in a most wonderful manner. The egg (4-0 x 2-84) is placed on the two 

 feet, and then the bird, taking up a stooping position, loosens the skin on the breast. This 

 looseness is utilised to form a sort of pouch, completely covering the egg. By this means 

 the egg never touches the cold stones, and is warmly covered up all round" (Pall Mall 

 Magazine, November, 1897). 



Also the genus Pygoscelis. With lower mandible never curved down towards the tip. No 

 superciliary band of golden feathers. Tail twelve to sixteen feathers. Three species, viz. — 



P. tomiata. 30". The Gentoo Penguin. Above slate-grey, each feather with dark base 

 and blue-grey tip. Breast and below white. Chin and throat grey or brownish. Wide white 

 band above eye curving back towards crown. Flipper margined white on both sides. Feet 

 yellow. Tail sixteen feathers in adults, eighteen in young. The Falkland, Kerguelen, and 

 Macquarie Islands. 



P. adelice. 30". General colour as in P. tceniata, but no band across crown, and inner 

 margin only of flipper margined white. Feet black. Tail fourteen feathers. Egg 2-75 x 2-25. 

 Antarctic continent. 



P. antarctica. 30". General colour as in P. adelice, but chin and throat white, and a narrow 

 black line crossing the throat in a semicircle from ear to ear. Feet black. Bill black. Tail 

 twelve feathers in adults, fourteen in young. Falkland Islands and vicinity. 



Also the genus Caiarrhacles. Koyal Penguins. With a superciliary band of golden feathers. 

 Tail twelve to sixteen feathers. Seven species : — 



Superciliary band not uniting on forehead, 



G. chrysocome. 25". The Eock Hopper Penguin. Superciliary band of golden feathers 

 greatly elongate posteriorly. Above dark slate, each pointed feather black, edged externally 

 dark slate. Top of head black. Straggling crest. Head, chin, and throat smoky black. Below 

 white. Bill orange. Tail sixteen feathers. From Tierra del Fuego to the New Zealand group. 



C. pachyrhynchus. 28". The Thick-billed Penguin. Superciliary band not greatly elongate 

 posteriorly. Inner margin of flipper with one row of narrow white-edged feathers. Bill red. 

 Feet pink. Tail sixteen feathers. New Zealand islands. 



O. sclateri. 28". Similar to C. pachyrhynchus, but inner margin of flipper has two rows 

 of narrow white-edged feathers. Tail sixteen feathers. New Zealand islands. 



C mttatus. 26". Allied to C pachyrhynchus, but flipper is uniform dark brown, and not 

 margined posteriorly white. Dunedin, N.Z. 



