A CITY OF BIRDS. 241 



" The tardy youngsters now began to experience 

 the ills of life. Every penguin that had reached its 

 place aimed blows at them as they passed on the way 

 to their own abodes. 



" One of these little birds certainly did seem to need 

 correction. It saw its neighbor's nest empty and sat 

 down in it. The old female Johnny, the rightful 

 occupier, presently returned in company with her own 

 chick, to whom, after having put her head well into 

 his mouth, she began to administer refreshment after 

 his run. Seeing them so pleasantly engaged, the 

 small vagrant, thoughtlessly presuming on her gener- 

 osity, presented himself to be fed, as if he also had a 

 right to her care and attention. 



" She looked at him as he stood gaping before her 

 with drooping wings, unable for a moment to credit 

 what she saw. But suddenly the truth flashed upon 

 her, and, provoked by his consummate audacity, she 

 gave vent to her indignation, pecked his tongue as 

 hard as she could, chased him out of the nest, darting 

 blows on his back and croaking ominously as he fled 

 precipitately beyond the reach of her beak, leaving 

 trophies in the form of shreds of his downy coat 

 upon the scene of his unfortunate adventure." 



