202 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



called by sailors, regardless of species, Jackass Penguins, from their 

 habit, when on shore, of throwing their head backwards, and of 

 making a strange loud noise very like the braying of an ass. 



This family all defend themselves vigorously with their beaks 

 when an attempt is made to lay hands upon them ; and, when pur- 

 sued, they will pretend to retreat, and return immediately, throwing 

 themselves upon their assailant. " At other times they will look at 

 you askance," says Pernetty, "the head inclined first on one side, 

 then on the other, as if they were mocking you." They hold them- 

 selves upright on their feet, the body erect in a perpendicular line 

 with the head. In this attitude they might be taken for a party 

 of choristers with white surplices and black gowns. Navigators 

 passing these islands of the southern seas might suppose that they 

 were densely inhabited, for the loud roaring voices of these birds 

 produce a noise equal to that of a great crowd. The flesh is most 

 unpalatable, but it is frequently the only resource of ship's crews 

 who find themselves short of provisions in these inhospitable regions. 

 However, their eggs have the redeeming quality of being excellent. 



The Auk (Aka) 



is a noble bird, which was once common in our waters, but at this 

 date scarce even in the Arctic Seas ; as it is but little known we refer 

 our readers to Fig. 80 for a knowledge of its appearance. In habits 

 and mode of life it strongly resembles the Penguins. 



The Grebes (Podiceps). 



The Grebes have the head small, the neck somewhat elongated, 

 the legs attached to the abdomen, the tail rudimentary, the tarsi 

 compressed, the anterior toes united at their base by a membrane 

 slightly lobed in its contracted extent. These birds live on the sea, 

 but they inhabit fresh water by preference, feeding on small fishes, 

 worms, molluscs, insects, and the products of aquatic vegetation. 

 While they dive and swim admirably, they also fly with vigorous 

 wing ; but they rarely resort to this unless alarmed or under migrating 

 impulse. If the latter be the case, it is to visit the interior lakes, or 

 to select a breeding-place. 



The nest of the Grebe is usually placed in a tuft of rushes on the 

 edge of the water. It is composed exteriorly of large grassy plants 

 roughly interlaced, and the interior is lined with soft broken grasses 

 delicately arranged. The eggs vary from three to seven. On shore 



