BIOLOGY 



and Adelies, when the serious business of nesting is off 

 their minds, show a legitimate curiosity. Having fed 

 and got into good condition they leave the sea and go off 

 in parties, apparently to see the country, and travel for 

 days and weeks. 



The Emperor 



We saw the Emperor only as a summer visitor. Hav- 

 ing finished nesting, fed up and become glossy and beau- 

 tiful, they came up out of the sea in large or small parties, 

 apparently to have a good time before moulting. While 

 the Adelies were nesting they began to come in numbers 

 to inspect the camp. Passing among the Adelies, the 

 two kinds usually paid no attention to one another, but 

 sometimes an Adehe would think an Emperor came too 

 close to her riest, and a curious unequal quarrel would 

 ensue, the little impudence pecking and scolding, and the 

 Emperor scolding back, with some loss of dignity. 

 Though more than able to hold her own with the tongue, 

 the Adelie knew the value of discretion whenever the 

 Emperor raised his flipper. 



They were curious about any unusual object and would 

 come a long way to see a motor-car or a man. When out 

 on these excursions the leader of a party keeps them 

 together by a long shrill squawk. Distant parties salute 

 in this way and continue calling till they get pretty close. 

 A party could be made to approach by imitating this call. 

 The first party to arrive inspected the boat, then crossed 

 the lake to the camp. sSoon they discovered the dogs, and 

 thereafter all other interests were swallowed up in the 

 interest excited by them. After the first discovery crowds 

 came eveiy day for a long time, and from the manner in 

 which they went straight to the kennels one was tempted 

 to believe that the fame of them had been noised abroad. 



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