306 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



wings of the old ones. The appearance of the young was not unlike 

 that of goslings, being covered with a dark thick down. 



"These penguins are the Eudyptes chrysocome; they are from 

 sixteen to twenty inches in height, with white breast and nearly 

 black back, the rest being of a dark dove-colour, with the exception 

 of the head, which is adorned on each side with four or five yellow 

 feathers three or four inches long, looking like graceful plumes. The 

 birds stand erect in rows, which gives them the appearance of Lillipu- 

 tian soldiers. The sight was novel and beautiful, and had it not been 

 for the gabble, — enough to deafen me, — I could have stayed much 

 longer. It was now time to return to the boat, when it occurred to 

 me that live birds would be preferable to the dead; so throwing the 

 latter down, I seized one old and a couple of young ones, and with 

 three or four eggs in my cap, made the best of my way to the boat. 

 It was now found impossible to hand them on board, and not willing 

 to surrender my prize, a lead-line was thrown me from the boat, but 

 did not come near enough, and in my attempts to get it, I was over- 

 taken by a sea, and was thrown violently against the rocks among the 

 kelp, and just made out to crawl on hands and knees beyond the 

 reach of the returning sea, somewhat bruised, wet, and benumbed 

 with the cold." 



At this juncture, the quarter-master returned with a large species 

 of penguin over his shoulders, but without the crown of feathers on 

 his head. He described a similar rookery, and also saw some green 

 paroquets with a small red spot on the head, and an oblong slaty or 

 purple spot at the root of the bill, and with straight beaks. Mr. Eld 

 was too much exhausted to return with him to get specimens, and 

 the hour being late, it was necessary to return to the boat, which had 

 been waiting for some time for them. The quarter-master suc- 

 ceeded in getting his penguins to the boat, but Mr. Eld's began floun- 

 dering about, and although their legs were tied, managed to get into 

 the water, where they were at home, and were soon out of reach. 

 The tying of the legs did not seem any impediment to their exer- 

 tions in the water, and thus several interesting specimens of natural 

 history were lost, the trouble that it cost making them doubly valuable. 

 With great difficulty Mr. Eld reached the boat, for having again 

 missed his foothold, he fell among the kelp, but by the timely aid of 

 those on board he was rescued. After an hour's tug at their oars, 

 they reached the ship in safety. During their absence the ship 

 sounded with a line of three hundred fathoms, two and a half miles 



