THEHEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



Penguins 



Though so much has been written about them, the 

 penguins always excite fresh interest in every one who 

 sees them for the first time. There is endless interest in 

 watching them, the dignified Emperor, dignified notwith- 

 standing his clumsy waddle, going along with his wife 

 (or wives) by his side, the very picture of a successful, 

 self-satisfied, happy, unsuspicious countryman, gravely 

 bowing like a Chinaman before a yelping dog — the little 

 undignified matter-of-fact Adelie, minding his own busi- 

 ness in a way worthy of emulation. They are perfectly 

 adapted to a narrow round of life, and when compelled 

 to face matters outside of their experience they often 

 behave with apparent stupidity, but sometimes show a 

 good deal of intelligence. 



Their resemblance to human beings is always noticed. 

 This is partly due to the habit of walking erect, but there 

 are truly a great many human traits about them. They 

 are the civilised nations of these regions, and their civili- 

 sation, if much simpler than ours, is in some respects 

 higher and more worthy of the name. But there is a good 

 deal of human nature in them, too. As in the human race 

 their gathering in colonies does not show any true social 

 instinct. They are merely gregarious; each penguin is 

 in the rookeiy for his own ends, there is no thought of 

 the general good. You might exterminate an Adelie 

 rookery with the exception of one bird, and he would be 

 in no way concerned so long as you left him alone. 



Some little suggestion of altruism will appear in deal- 

 ing with the nesting habits of the Adelie. Thieving is 

 known, among the Adelies at least. One very pleasing 

 trait is sIiot^ti, which they have in common with man. 

 Eating is not with them the prime business in life, as it is 

 with the common fowl, and most animals. Both Emperors 



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