Il8 BROOKLYN INSTITl^TE MUSEl'M. .SCIP:N'CK Bl-LI,KTIX 2. 5- 
l)erhaps years, they would undergo no bodil\- change in their frigid 
graves. 
The nests of J^vQosaiis paf>i(a at South Georgia are nuire nr less l)ulk\- 
niounds of hiinius and \vis])s of tussock grass, usnallx' thdUgh not al\va\s 
on a foundation of small stones. Sometimes the floor of the ne.st is lined 
with a mosaic of jiebbles on which the eggs rest. Nests on the hill-tops 
are smaller than most of those on low ground, doubtless because of 
scarcity of vegetation in the former situations. In crowded parts of the 
colonies I saw a few nests Iniilt on the to]is of glacial boulders about a 
meter high. The birds are notorious for stealing each other's nesting 
material. 
Both ])arents incubate, relieving each other at intervals of .several 
days. The change is made quickly so that the eggs are never exposed 
more than momentarily. On the lower bell\' of the sitting birds is a 
narrow, longitudinal area of bare skin, scarcely discernible on a dead 
l>enguiii, but capable of being spread b\- voluntarx- mu.scles. This warm, 
\-a.scular brood-patch is ap]ilied directly to the two eggs * which lie one 
before the other under the bird. After the eggs have cracked it still re- 
mains a .serious jiroposition for the young jienguins, which are extra- 
ordinaril\- feeble during the first few da\s of life, to work their way out 
of their tlnck-shelled ]irisons. 
The nesting jolnnn jienguins are generall\- timid, scanqiering oflf at 
the ap]iroach of a man. but nex'er retreating more than a few ]iaces. A 
small i)roportion of them stand tlieir ground on the nests and show fight, 
emi)lo>-ing as wea]5ons both bill and wings. With the latter they can 
strike rajiid and forceful 1)lu\vs. ( )n one occasion a bird which I had 
roused from slceji attacked me and beat such a furious tattoo upon my 
leather leggings that its own ]iinions were soon bleeding. When a 
brooding ])enguin is driven away from young nestlings, it lingers near 
by, trumpeting loudly until the disturbance is over; then it examines its 
offs])ring ver\- minutel\-, stooping down near-sightedly, and .scrutinizing 
one and the other over and over again. When satisfied that all is well, 
it settles down contente(ll\ . The incubating birds turn around in their 
nests so as to keeji their bills jiointed towanl the skuas that walk about 
the rookeries with e\-il purpo.se and wait ])atientl\ hour after hour for a 
chance to .steal an egg. Eternal vigilance is the price of safety for the 
* At the South Orkneys, according to Eagle Clarke, the egg.s of P. /lafiiia ■■ were usually two in 
number, frequently only one. never three." .\t South Georgia von den Steinen twice found nests 
