ESCAPE FROM THE ICE 
in fine weather, but I did not push my exploration in that 
direction diu'ing the gale. At the seaward end of the spit was 
the mass of rock already mentioned. A few thousand ringed 
penguins, mth some gentoos^ were on these rocks, and we had 
noted this fact with a great deal of satisfaction at the time of 
our landing. The ringed penguin is by no means the best of 
the penguins from the point of view of the hungry traveller, 
but it represents food. At 8 a.m. that morning I noticed the 
ringed penguins mustering in orderly fashion close to the 
Avater's edge, and thought that they were preparing for the 
daily fishing excursion ; but presently it became apparent that 
some important move was on foot. They were going to migrate, 
and vnth their departure much valuable food would pass beyond 
our reach. Hurriedly we armed ourselves with pieces of sledge- 
runner and other improvised clubs, and started towards the 
rookery. We were too late. The leaders gave their squawk 
of command snd the cohunns took to the sea in unbroken 
ranks. Following their leaders, the penguins dived through the 
surf and reappeared in the heaving water beyond. A very few 
of the weaker birds took fright and made their way back to 
the beach, where they fell victims later to our needs ; but the 
main army went northwards and we saw them no more. We 
feared that the gentoo penguins might follow the example of 
their ringed cousins, but they stayed with us ; apparently 
they had not the migratory habit. They were comparatively 
few in number, but from time to time they would come in from 
the sea and walk up om* beach. The gentoo is the most strongly 
marked of all the smaller varieties of penguins as far as colouring 
is concerned, and it far surpasses the adelie in Aveight of legs 
and breast, the points that particularly appealed to us. 
The deserted rookery was sure to be above high- water mark 
at all times, and we mounted the rocky ledge in search of a 
place to pitch our tents. The penguins knew better than to 
rest where the sea could reach them even when the highest 
tide was supported by the strongest gale. The disadvantages 
of a camp on the rookery were obvious. The smell was strong, 
to put it mildly, and was not likely to grow less pronounced 
when the warmth of our bodies thawed the surface. But our 
153 
