The bump of curiosity is strongly developed in ' Kings,' and when we were in the hut they came right 

 up to the low windows and peered eagerly in, tapping the glass with their beaks as they did so. 



I found this curiosity a great trouble when photographing them on the beach, as no sooner had I got the 

 camera fixed than they would march straight up and bump, or peck its legs. The only method of getting 

 them into focus was to wave the camera cloth violently in the air and shout and rush excitedly towards them ■ 

 this noise and fuss used to frighten them a little, so that there would be just time for me to get back 

 and expose before they reached the camera once more. 



If there is a wind blowing they spread out their wings to balance themselves as they walk, but when it 

 is calm, or they are standing still, the wings are held straight down at their sides, and they look like a 

 regiment of soldiers shouldering arms. 



When I see one of these birds standing alone, he reminds me of a gentleman in a dress suit, the dark 

 feathers at the back coming right down and looking like the coat-tails, and the white breast in front the 

 waistcoat. 



These birds look their best when mating, and put on airs and styles which nothing but a King Penguin 

 could carry without looking ridiculous. They swell out their breasts, and wobble about from side to side as 

 they wander around with their ' intendeds ' ; every now and then stopping and looking slyly round to see if 

 their blandishments are having the proper effect. 



If a female is especially attractive, and her charms prove sufficient to please another beau in addition to 

 her established lover, a fight is started by the outsider calmly walking up to claim possession, entirely ignoring 

 the other male, until he enforces the fact of his presence by his powerful wing strokes. Then the two males 

 set to and fight it out, she remaining an interested and critical spectator, until one or the other of the 

 combatants seems to be winning. Then, unable to contain herself any longer, she rushes into the fray, and, 

 siding with the victor, completely outmatches the other. It matters not to her if the loser is her former suitor, 

 as she is only too glad to be consoled by the winning stranger, feeling that she has a better protector in case of 

 need. 



The one-year-old birds have black beaks, but these change to a dark rich orange as they become older. 

 The young ones do not seem to be so firm on their feet as the older birds, for when we chased them suddenly 

 they nearly always fell down upon their breasts, and used their wings as a sort of oar with which to propel 

 themselves ; in this position they slid along the ground quite quickly, making us run to overtake them. 



With the older birds it is comparatively rare to see them in any other position than upright, and even 

 when sleeping they do not lie down. 



It was great fun to come up quietly to a sleeping 'King,' and touch him lightly with one's foot; he was 

 sure to fall flat on his back, and stare up at his tormentor in a dazed manner ; then, collecting his faculties 

 together, he would scuttle away as quickly as he could, never stopping until a safe distance had been placed 

 between himself and his foe. The birds always seemed to be more scared by this simple trick than by 

 anything else we could do to them. 



All day the beach is thronged with Penguins, walking or standing about in groups, apparently talking. 

 Sometimes two Penguins talking together are joined by a third, who gives them the benefit of his experiences ; 

 and then, when the talk is over, the new-comer walks off again to hear and spread news with other Penguins. 



Parent Penguins can always be distinguished from the others by the fearfully solemn and business-like 

 manner with which they walk along the beach, never stopping or looking round, but going straight ahead. I 

 saw one with his head bent forward and his wings spread out, planting his feet down in such a determined 

 manner that it struck me he must really be sorry to have to take them up again to walk. His mind was so full 

 of his duty that the only effect of my standing in his way was to turn him slightly aside, his wings brushing 

 against me as he passed. 



Returning home, the parents behave in much the same manner; only, owing to the internal load of fish 

 they are carrying, they are not quite so steady on their feet. They are also in more hurry, perhaps fearing" 

 that the little one's appetite has exceeded its supply. 



It is wonderful how fat the parents keep the young, the almost mature ones weighing much more than 

 the old birds ; so fat do they become that they are killed in thousands for boiling down into oil. 



As soon as the young one is fledged and able to take care of itself, the parents leave it and go out to sea 

 to feed on fish, and become fat enough to enable them to stay three weeks moulting, without food, Penguins 

 being unable to go fishing while the feathers are changing. 



Penguins swim like porpoises, diving a little below the water, and then leaping up into the air to 



