Since the return of the expedition to France I have learned that in November and December, 1910, some ringed birds had been recovered by whalers who, during the summer months, went in search of Cetaceans in those regions. The Adelie penguin is a brave animal and rarely flees from danger. If it happens to be tormented it faces its aggressor and ruffles the black feathers which cover its neck. Then it takes a stand for combat, the body straight, the animal erect, the beak in the air, the wings extended, not losing sight of its enemy. It then makes a sort of purring, a muffled grumbling, to prove that it is not satisfied and has not lost a bit of its firm resolution to defend itself. In this guarded position it awaits events. If the enemy beats a retreat, then the penguin abandons its menacing attitude; often it stays on the spot; sometimes it returns and, lying flat on the ground, pushes itself along with all the force of its claws and its wings. Should it be overtaken, instead of trying to increase its speed, it stops, backs up again to face anew the peril, and returns to its position of combat. Sometimes it takes the offensive, throws itself on its aggressor, which it punishes with blows of its beak and wings. With the opening of spring, the Adelies return little by little toward their old rookeries. As soon as they arrive many make their bed on the snow as if to rest from the fatigue of their long journey; those more rested or less indolent hunt for pebbles needed for building their nests. The life of the city becomes more and more active; the birds are each day more numerous. The smallest rock uncovered is at once occupied. Small stones become scarcer and scarcer, and it is difficult for new arrivals to procure them; thereupon the last comers resort to stratagem in order to steal from neighboring nests. The quarrels over ownership increase; each works for itself; selfishness rules as master; everywhere is distrust. One suspects its neighbor, which, when it approaches, suspects it; if it tries, in spite of the cries and menaces, to come nearer, it is received with blows of the beak; if it tries to steal a pebble and is detected, it is pursued and severely punished. At every moment some quarrels, some battles, burst out. Often a dispute between two individuals, degenerating into a fight, ends by spreading the trouble into every corner of the city. The Adelie is a savage individual, constantly in conflict to defend its property. When the penguins come to their rookeries the male begins to search for a female with whom it will stay until the young are able to take care of themselves. At this time the male is full of animation before the female and carries on a very ardent courtship. Sometimes two males having the same tastes court the same female. There is then seen a rivalry in gallantry; the female surrounded by two suitors who attack, probably with pretty words, dares not decide too quickly. She is intimidated and these attacks of gallantry are generally ended by a regular battle between the suitors; but we can not say with certainty whether the victor in the contest inevitably becomes the husband of the lady Adelie. What confusion in these cities of the Adelie; how many quarrels over stolen pebbles and property rights; how many battles, too, started by jealous husbands! And all this occurs on ground wet with melting snow, stained with mud the color of wine dregs. The Adelies lay two, very rarely three, eggs. They are slightly greenish-white; their weight varies between 125 and 135 grams. The laying begins in the first days of November and ends by the last of December. Male and female alternately sit on the nest. The female takes great care of the eggs; several times during the day she turns them with her beak, then she rests on them so as to bring in contact with the shell the region of the abdomen which on a longitudinal median surface is destitute of feathers. The lower part of the eggs rests on the feet of the bird. Incubation lasts from 33 to 36 days. The first broods hatch in the latter half of December. On hatching they are covered with a uniformly blackish-gray down, darker on the head, which they keep for seven or eight weeks. After the hatching of the eggs, which ends in the first half of January, the city presents great animation. The parents must assume the difficult task of nourishing the broods, which are rapidly developing. Also, when the hatching is over, the male and female in turn abandon the nest to go a-fishing. One then sees the Adelie quit the rookery in little flocks, which always follow the same route, and in fleeing make veritable paths in the snow to reach some point on the coast where it will be easy to launch out to sea. The penguins remain in the sea only long enough for the fishing. There, in fact, they encounter their formidable enemies, the killers and the seals. The heron seal (Lobodon carcinophagus), the Weddell seal (Leptomychotes Weddelli), and especially the fierce sea leopard (Hydrurga leptonyx), take for their nourishment an ample supply of penguins. The fishing ended, always in companies, the birds return to the rookery, where they are impatiently awaited by their offspring. With its great belly, which reaches to its feet, the young bird has a very clumsy appearance. Sometimes completely satiated, it remains in place without being able to stir; at other times, moved by hunger, it runs after some adult returning from the sea; it harasses that unfortunate until it finally yields. Through a sort of regurgitation, the bird causes part of the food to return into the throat, where the |