BREEDING-PLACES. 481 
Penguins. 
tion of the grand purpose for which they are then and there 
assembled. In the first place, they select^ as level a piece of 
ground as they can find, often comprising four or five acres, 
and as near the water as possible, — always preferring that 
which is least encumbered with stones and other hard sub- 
stances, which might endanger their eggs. As soon as they 
are satisfied on this point, they proceed to lay out the plan 
of their intended encampment ; which task they commence 
by tracing a well-defined oblong, large enough to accommo- 
date the whole united parties. One side of this square runs 
parallel with the water’s edge, and is always left open for 
coming in and going out ; the other three sides are differently 
arranged. 
* See Morritt’s Voyages . 
