_ PENGUINS 21 



white ; and the Great, or Giant Petrel, when it wanders 

 to the far south, also becomes white. 



Petrels were supposed by the older naturalists to be 

 nearly related to the Seagulls, which they closely re- 

 semble. But the resemblance may be purely super- 

 ficial, and due to their similar modes of life. 



Penguins 



The Penguins are perhaps the most remarkable of 

 all the carinate birds. No other family has become so 

 profoundly modified and adapted for an aquatic life. 

 Though the bird-like shape is retained, the wings have 

 become transformed into paddles, resembling those of 

 whales, and with these paddles Penguins propel them- 

 selves through the water after the fashion of a bird 

 flying through the air. When on land Penguins 

 stand almost perfectly erect, with their wings, or flip- 

 pers, hanging at their sides, in an attitude unlike that 

 taken by any other bird. When seen in this position 

 and from a distance they look not unlike a band of 

 small men, as they waddle along in single file across 

 the ice. In captivity they seldom live long, but are 

 very intelligent, soon learning to recognise their keep- 

 ers. Their food consists exclusively of fish. 



These birds are confined absolutely to the southern 

 hemisphere. In size they vary enormously, the 

 largest species being represented by the King Penguin 

 and the Emperor Penguin, which stand about four 

 feet high; while the smallest is the Little Penguin of 

 New Zealand, no larger than a small Duck. See 

 Plate 40, Fig. 235. 



