KING PENGUIN . — Aptenodytes Pennantii- 
The Penguins form a very 
remarkable group, all its mem- 
bers having their wings modified 
into paddles, useless for flight, 
but capable of being employed as 
fore-legs in terrestrial progression 
when the bird is in a hurry, and 
probably as oars or paddles in the 
water. There are many species of 
Penguins, but as they are very 
similar in general habits, we 
must be content with a single 
example. 
The King Penguin is a native 
of high southern latitudes, and is 
very plentiful in the spots which 
it frequents. It swims and dives 
wonderfully well, and feeds largely 
on cuttle-fish. Dr. Bennett has 
given an admirable description of 
this bird and its habits, as it 
appeared on Macquarrie’s Island 
in the South Pacific Ocean. 
“ The number of Penguins 
collected together in this spot is 
immense, but it would be almost 
impossible to guess at it with 
any near approach to truth, as 
during the whole of the day and 
night thirty or forty thousand of 
them are continually landing, and 
an equal number going to sea. 
The females hatch their eggs 
by keeping them close between 
time of incubation, move away. 
their thighs ; and if approached during the 
carrying their eggs with them. At this time the male bird goes to sea and 
collects food for the female, which becomes very fat. After the young is 
hatched, both parents go to sea, and bring back food for it ; it soon becomes 
so fat as scarcely to be able to walk, the old birds getting very thin. 
There is only a single egg, and its colour is greyish white. 
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