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BROOKLYN INSTITUTE MUSEUM. 
SCIENCE BULLETIN 2 . 5 - 
perhaps years, the}’ would undergo no bodily change in their frigid 
graves. 
The ne.sts of Pvg osce/is papua at vSouth Georgia are more or le.ss bulk}’ 
mounds of humus and wisps of tussock gra.ss, usual!}’ though not alwa}’s 
on a foundation of small stones. vSometimes the floor^of the nest is lined 
with a mosaic of pebbles on which the eggs re.st. Ne.sts on the hill-to]is 
are smaller than mo.st of tho.se on low ground, doubtle.ss becau.se of 
.scarcity of vegetation in the former situations. In crowded jiarts of the 
colonies I saw a few nests built on the to])s of glacial boulders about a 
meter high. The birds are notorious for .stealing each other’s ne.sting 
material. 
Both jiarents incubate, relieving each other at intervals of .several 
dax’s. The change is made quick!}’ so that the eggs are never expo.sed 
more than momentaril}’. On the lower bell}’ of the sitting birds is a 
narrow, longitudinal area of bare skin, .scarce!}’ di.scernible on a dead 
penguin, but capable of being spread by voluntar}’ mu.scles. This warm, 
va.scular brood-patch is applied direct!}’ to the two eggs* which lie one 
before the other under the bird. After the eggs have cracked it still re- 
mains a .serious ])ro]iosition for the }’oung penguins, which are extra- 
ordinaril}' feeble during the first few days of life, to work their wa}’ out 
of their thick-shelled prisons. 
The ne.sting johmi}’ penguins are general!}’ timid, .scam])ering off at 
the approach of a man, but never retreating more than a few paces. 
small pro])ortion of them stand their ground on the ne.sts and show fight, 
eni]do}’ing as wea])ons both bill and wings. With the latter they can 
strike ra])id and forceful lilows. On one occasion a bird which I had 
rou.sed from slee]) attacked me and beat such a furious tattoo iqioii ni}’ 
leather leggings that its own ])inions were soon bleeding. When a 
brooding ])enguin is driven awa_v from young ne.stlings, it lingers near 
b}’, trumpeting loudlv until the di.sturbance is over ; then it examines its 
offspring very minutely, .stooping down near-.sightedly, and .scrutinizing 
one and the other over and over again. When .satisfied that all is well, 
it .settles down contentedl}-. The incubating birds turn around in their 
ne.sts so as to kee]) their bills ])ointed toward the skuas that vralk about 
the rookeries with evil ])uri)o.se and wait ]iatiently hour after hour for a 
chance to .steal an egg. Eternal vigilance is the ]irice of .safety for the 
* .A.t the .South (Xrkney.s, according to Eagle Clarke, the eggs of P. jyapua “ were u.sually two in 
miinher. frec|uently only one, never three." .\t .South (Georgia von den .Steineu twice found nests 
containing three eggs. The period of incuhation is about thirty-three days. 
