Antarctic. Continent. 
45 
We were mucli amused witli the habits of these pen¬ 
guins. They appear to perform their sea journies’in 
small tribes or associations; and these tribes are seen 
constantly arriving- or departing in the most orderly 
manner. They skip over the water and through the 
waves with the swiftness of dolphins, until they reach 
some flat piece of ice attached to the land, to the summit 
of which they project themselves with the greatest pre¬ 
cision,—those landed moving only a few paces forward as 
wanted, until the whole of the company are assembled; 
when off they march rapidly up the icy ridges, piping 
their wild notes, and being answered by multitudes from 
above. This island, which the people called Penguin 
Island, is about four or five miles in circuit, and, through¬ 
out its whole extent, one mass of moving creatures. 
It can scarcely be fancied by those whp have not wit¬ 
nessed a scene of this description, the gloomy and deso¬ 
late effect which it has on the mind. The penguin, in its 
natural state, is not without some resemblance to the 
human form. It stands erect, but when moving waddles 
about with a solemn and grave gait, slightly stooping- 
forward, with its short arms hanging helplessly from 
its sides, giving it an appearance which, as I have often 
felt, resembles decrepit old age. 
We were not long on shore before we were called from 
our various occupations to assist in a very interesting- 
ceremony, namely, that of drinking Her most gracious 
Majesty’s health, and taking possession of this Antarctic 
land, in Her Majesty’s name. The Union Jack bein»- 
fastened to the end of a pike-staff, and planted in the 
front of the rocks, Captain Ross, in warm sentiments of 
affection and duty to Her Majesty, drank Her health in 
a glass of excellent sherry, which example we eagerly 
followed, and then gave three as hearty cheers as ever 
bui st from the united voices of twenty-four human 
beings. 
