ADELIE PENGUINS* 



INTRODUCTION 



The penguins of the Antarctic regions very rightly 

 have been termed the true inhabitants of that 

 country. The species is of great antiquitj"-, fossil 

 remains of their ancestors having been found, 

 which showed that they flourished as far back as the 

 eocene epoch. To a degree far in advance of any 

 other bird, the penguin has adapted itself to the sea 

 as a means of livelihood, so that it rivals the very 

 fishes. This proficiency in the water has been 

 gained at the expense of its power of flight, but 

 this is a matter of small moment, as it happens. 



In few other regions could such an animal as 

 the penguin rear its young, for when on land 

 its short legs offer small advantage as a means 

 of getting about, and as it cannot fly, it would 

 become an easy prey to any of the carnivora which 

 abound in other parts of the globe. Here, however, 

 there are none of the bears and foxes which inhabit 

 the North Polar regions, and once ashore the pen- 

 guin is safe. 



* Pygoscelis adeliae. 



A 1 



