ADELIE PENGUINS 



has turned out to be a robber on the hunt for 

 his neighbours' stones. The others, too, seemed to 

 know it, and would have a peck at him as he passed 

 them. 



At last he would find a hen seated unwarily 

 on her nest, slide up behind her, deftly and silently 

 grab a stone, and run off triumphantly with it 

 to his mate who was busily arranging her own 

 home. Time after time he would return to the 

 same spot, the poor depredated nest-holder being 

 quite oblivious of the fact that the side of her nest 

 which lay behind her was slowly but surely vanish- 

 ing stone by stone. 



Here could be seen how much individual character 

 makes for success or failure in the efforts of the 

 penguins to produce and rear their offspring. 

 There are vigilant birds, always alert, who seem 

 never to get robbed or molested in any way : these 

 have big high nests, made with piles of stones. 

 Others are unwary and get huffed as a result. 

 There are a few even who, from weakness of 

 character, actually allow stronger natured and 

 more aggressive neighbours to rob them under 

 their very eyes. 



In speaking of the robbery which is such a 

 feature of the rookery during nest building, special 

 24 



