APTENODYTES. 
Short, wedged, the feathers very rigid. 
There are nine species according to Latham, 
hut Gmelin enumerates eleven. 
This genus of birds seems to hold the 
same place in the southern parts of the 
world as the awks do in the northern, and 
are by no means to be confounded the c.ne 
with the other, however authors may differ 
in opinion in. respect to this matter. The 
penguin is seen only in the temperate and 
frigid zones, on that side of the equator 
which it frequents ; and the same is ob- 
served of the awk in the opposite latitudes ; 
and neither of the genera has yet been ob- 
served within the tropics. The awk has 
true wings and, quills, though small ; the 
penguin mere fins only, instead of wings. 
This last has four toes on each foot ; but the 
former only three. The penguin, while 
swimming, sinks quite above the breast; 
the head and neck only appearing out of the 
water, rowing itself along with its finny 
wings, as with oars ; while the aw k, in 
common with most other birds, swims on 
the surface. Several other circumstances 
peculiar to each might be mentioned ; but 
we trust the above will prove fully suffici- 
ent to characterize this genus. The bodies 
of the penguin tribe are commonly so well 
and closely covered with feathers, that no 
wet can penetrate ; and as they are in ge- 
neral excessively fat, these circumstances 
united secure them from the cold. They 
have often been found above seven hun- 
dred leagues from land ; and frequently on 
the mountains of ice, on which they seem to 
ascend without difficulty, as the soles of 
their feet are very rough, and suited to the 
purpose. 
Aptenodytes antarctica, is full 25 inches 
long, and weighs eleven or twelve pounds i 
it inhabits the south sea from 48° to the an- 
tarctic circle, and is frequently found on the 
ice mountains and islands on which it as- 
cends. It is a numerous tribe ; and they 
were found in great plenty in the Isle of 
Desolation. 
The black-footed penguin is found in the 
neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope, 
but particularly in Robbean or Penguin 
Isles, near Saidanic Bay. Like all the ge- 
nus, this is an excellent swimmer and diver ; 
but hops and flutters in a strange and auk- 
ward manner on the land, and, if hurried, 
stumbles perpetually ; and frequently runs 
for some distance like a quadruped, making 
use of the wings instead of legs, till it can 
recover its upright posture ; crying out at 
the same time like a goose, but in a much 
hoarser voice. It is said to clamber some 
way up the rocks in order to make a nest, 
in doing which it has been observed to be 
assisted with the bill. The eggs are two, 
and esteemed at the Cape very delicious. 
Aptinodytes chrysocome. This beauti- 
ful species measures twenty-three inches in 
length. The bill is three inches long ; the 
colour of it red, with a dark furrow running 
along on each side to the tip ; the upper 
mandible is curved at the end, the under ob- 
tuse ; irides of a dull red ; the head, neck, 
back, and sides, are black ; over each eye 
a stripe of pale yellow feathers, which 
lengthens into a crest behind, of near four 
inches in length ; the feathers on each side 
of the head, above this stripe, are longer 
than the rest, and stand upward, while 
those of the crest are decumbent, but can 
he erected on each side at will ; the wings, 
or rather fins, are black on the outside, 
edged with white ; on the inside white ; the 
breast, and all the under parts, white ; the 
legs are orange ; claws dusky. The fe- 
male has a streak of pale yellow over the 
eye, but it is not prolonged into a crest be- 
hind as in the male. Inhabits Falkland’s 
Islands, and was likewise met with in Kir- 
guelin’s Land, or Isle of Desolation, as well 
as at Van Diemen’s Land, and New Hol- 
land, particularly in Adventure Bay. Are 
called Hopping Penguins, and Jumping 
Jacks, from their action of leaping quite out 
of the water, on meeting with the least ob- 
stacle, for three or four feet at least ; and 
indeed, without any seeming cause, do the 
same frequently, appearing chiefly to ad- 
vance by that means. This species seems 
to have a greater air of liveliness in its coun- 
tenance than others, yet is in fact a very 
stupid bird, so much so as to suffer itself to 
be knocked on the head with a stick, when 
on land. When angered, it erects its crest 
in a beautiful manner. These birds make 
their nests among those of the pelican tribe, 
living in tolerable harmony with them ; and 
lay seldom more than one egg, which is 
white, and larger than that of a duck. Thev 
are mostly seen by themselves, seldom 
mixing with other penguins, and often met 
with in great numbers on the outer shores, 
where they have been bred. Are frequently 
so regardless as to suffer themselves to be 
taken by the hand. The females of this 
species lay their eggs in burrows, which 
they easily form of themselves with their 
bills, throwing out the dirt with their feet. 
In these holes the eggs are deposited on the 
bare earth. The general time of sitting is 
