THE PENGUIN 



Admirably adapted for swimming and diving 



these birds, like Indian canoes, are the swiftest 

 in the water, by having their paddles in the rear. 

 Our sailors, for this reason, give these birds a 

 very homely, but at the same time, expressive 

 name. 



Nor are they less qualified for diving than 

 swimming. By ever so little inclining their bo- 

 dies forward, they lose their centre of gravity; 

 and every stroke from their feet only tends to 

 sink them the faster. In this manner they can. 

 either dive at once to the bottom, or swim be- 

 tween two waters; where they continue fishing 

 for some minutes, and then ascending, catch an 

 instantaneous breath, to descend again to renew 

 their operations. Hence it is that these birds 

 which are so defenceless, and so easily taken by 

 land, are impregnable by water. If they per- 

 ceive themselves pursued in the least, they in- 

 stantly sink, and show nothing more than their 

 bills, till the enemy is withdrawn. Their very 

 internal conformation assists their powers in. 

 keeping long under w r ater. Their lungs are fitted 

 with numerous vacuities, by which they can take 

 in very large inspiration ; and this probably 

 serves them for a length of time. 



As they never visit land, except when they 

 come to breed, the feathers take a colour from 

 their situation. That part of them which ha^ 

 been continually bathed in the water, is white; 

 while their backs and wings are of different 

 Colours, according to the different species. They 



