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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Peru, occurring even as far north as the 

 Lobos de Afuera Islands, which are 

 within a few hundred miles of the Equa- 

 tor. This, of course, is because the ocean 

 off Peru is not tropical, but is constantly- 

 chilled by waters that stream from Ant- 

 arctic regions to the Equator. 



Penguins are naturally more numerous 

 toward the south. Almost every cavern 

 beneath the Chincha and Ballestas Islands 

 reveals its quota of nests. The largest 

 number of penguins seen at one time 

 was grouped upon a beach of the Isla 

 Vieja, in the Bay of Independencia, a 

 little more than 14 degrees south. They 

 were about sixty in number, a few of 

 them showing plumage of an immature 

 stage. 



The Peruvians have given penguins 

 the suggestive name of "pajaro ninos" 

 or "baby birds," in reference to their in- 

 fantile, waddling gait when walking with 

 the reduced wings held stiffly from the 

 body like the helpless arms of an infant. 



The guano of penguins is limited in 

 quantity and liable to be moistened by the 

 spray from the waves dashing into the 

 caverns they prefer to frequent. Never- 

 theless, when obtainable in good preser- 

 vation, it is highly esteemed. 



Penguins are also valued for the oil, 

 and the fishermen seek them for their 

 skins, while sailors kill them "for fun." 

 Close, hairlike feathering makes the skins 

 adapted for the fashioning of "fur" caps. 



BIRDS OF DIFFERENT FEATHERS THAT 

 FEOCK TOGETHER 



There are many other interesting birds 

 of the Peruvian islands. Petulant blue 

 Inca terns, with white curled "mous- 

 tache," dart excitedly into your very face 

 almost, but nest prudently in the rougher 

 places, where the homes may be protected 

 under shelving portions of guano or in 

 rudimentary burrows. 



Pearly gray terns practically cover the 

 south Santa Rosa Island with nests 

 which are so indistinguishable amidst the 

 gravel and guano that one unavoidably 

 crushes the eggs in walking about ; the 

 nestling birds, however, are never tram- 

 pled, for they are too quick and clever at 

 concealment. 



Noisy gulls of several species nest 

 scatteringly on various islands. Shore 

 birds, such as curlews, oyster birds, 



