ADELIE PENGUINS 



suddenly issue from their mouths and drift slowly 

 away down stream, as, without the slightest pause 

 in their career, they dashed eagerly along in the 

 hunt for more. 



When a penguin returned to his mate on the 

 nest, after his jaunt in the sea, much formality had 

 to be gone through before he was allowed to take 

 charge of the eggs. This ceremony of "relieving 

 guard " almost invariably was observed. 



Going up to his mate, with much graceful arching 

 of his neck, he appeared to assure her in guttural 

 tones of his readiness to take charge (Fig. 55). 

 At this she would become very agitated, replying 

 with raucous staccato notes, and refusing to budge 

 from her position on the eggs. Then both would 

 become angry for a while, arguing in a very heated 

 manner, until at last she would rise, and, standing 

 by the side of the nest, allow him to walk on to 

 it, which he immediately did, and after carefully 

 placing the eggs in position, sink down upon them, 

 afterwards thrusting his bill beneath his breast to 

 push them gently into a comfortable position. 

 After staying by him for a little while, the other 

 at length would go off to bathe and feed. 



The length of time during which each bird was 

 away varied considerably, but a " watch bill " was 

 90 



