note: “ I have repeatedly shot this diminutive Grebe at Lake
N’garni, Otjikoto, Omanbonde, and Walwich Bay, but have nowhere
found it abundant, except in the vleys of the Ondonga country,
where it breeds in vast numbers. Its eggs are from four to six
in number and of a dirty white. The nest is a mass of weeds and
grasses, and lies on the water. The eggs are always found covered
over, often several inches deep. Out of the numerous nests I have
taken and seen, in no one instance (except where the nest contained
only one or two eggs) did I find the eggs uncovered ; and the
covering is so complete and regular that it is not possible that it can
be the work of an instant or performed whilst the bird was making
a hurried retreat from its nest.'1'’ Mr. Monteiro says it is abundant
in the fresh-water lakes of Angola, and Senor Anchieta has procured
it at Benguela and Mossamedes.
Upper parts, top of head, chin, and back of neck, greenish-black;
rest of neck deep-rufous; breast brownish-grey; flanks the same,
tinged with rufous; under parts satiny-white; all the plumage
lustrous, and very dense, more like hair than feathers; eyebrow and
tip of bill, clear horn-coloured ; base bright green. Length, 10";
wing, 4"; tail spurious.
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. viii, pi. 633.
ORDER IMPENNES.
Fam. SPHENISCIDiE.
769. S ph en isc u s demursus (Linn.). Cape Penguin.
The whole plumage is of a stiff character, resembling strips of
whalebone. The wings are mere paddles for progression under
water, and are incapable of flight—the feet placed so far back as to
cause the bird to appear always falling backwards if it attempts to
stand on dry land. This singular bird is very common on all our
coasts, swimming to great distances out to sea. It breeds on rocky
islets, in the months of August, September, and October. Through
the kindness of our dear and valued friend, the late Admiral Trotter,
we once had the pleasure of visiting a breeding-place of this bird,
Seal Island, a lonely rock in the centre of False Bay. I t can only
be approached in certain winds, as the surf breaks on it with great
violence. The Penguins occupy the lower ledges by hundreds,
having dug their holes among the rocks. As we walked over the
stones, the birds rushed out at us, snapping at our legs, and
drawing blood plentifully from the naked feet of the sailors, in
defence of their one large solitary white egg, which is laid on
the bare ground, without any protection from the damp—axis, 2"9'";
diam., 2 —abruptly pointed at the small end. When not sitting on
their eggs, they stand upright on the rocks in long rows, balanced
on their stiff tails. They feed exclusively on fish, which they
overtake beneath the surface by their swiftness in swimming.
Mr. Eickard records it both from Port Elizabeth and East
London. Mr. Andersson writes as follows : “ This is the only
description of Penguin found on the south-west coast of Africa; but
if this coast-line lacks variety in this genus, the deficiency is in some
measure compensated by the great abundance of this particular
species, which is found on almost all parts of the coast from the
Cape of Good Hope to Walwich Bay. How much further it may
extend to the north I cannot say. This species is known to seafaring
men as the f Jackass Penguin,’ and its most favourite