Litchfield enquirer., 1832-12-06

suOH as tney are Sattxueo On uIs tiVantp N"sy
proceed to lay out the plan Of their pro-
jected encampment which task they com
mence by tracing well defined parallelo-
gram, of sufficient magnitude to accommo-
date the whole fraternity, say from one to
FIVE acres. One side of1his square runs
parallel with the waters edge, and IS al
ways left open for egress and regress the
other three sides are differently arranged.
n These Industrious feathered labosers
next proceed to clear all the ground With
in the square from distractions Of every
kind, picking up the stones in their bills,
and carefully depositing them outside ofthe
lines before mentioned, until they some
times, by this means create quite llstle
wall on three sides Of tho rookery. With
in this range of stones and rubbish they
form pathway, six or eight feet IN width,
and as smooth as any Of the paved Or grav-
elled walks in the New YORK Park, of on
the Battery. This path is for a general
promenade by day, and for the sentineis to
patrol at night.
7 Having thus finished their little works Of
defence on the three land sides, they nexts
lay out the whole area in little squares OF
equal sizes, formed by narrow paths which
cross each other at right angles, and which
are also made very smooth. AT each in
tersection of these paths an albatross con-
sstructs her nest, while in the centre OF each
little square is penguin's nest; SO that
each albatross is surrounded by pengulns
and each penguin has an albatross for its
neighbor, in four different directions. In
this regular manner is the whole area
occupied by these feathered sojourners, Of
different species leaving. ut convenient
distances, accommodations for some other
kinds of oceanic birds, suchas the shay, or
green cormorant, aud another which the
seamen call Nelly.
Although the penguin and the albatross
are on such intimate terms, and appear TO
be so afec,ionately and sincerely attached
to each other, they not only form their
nests in very different manner, but the
penguin will even rob her friends nest
whenever she has an opportunity. The
pengun's nest is merely a slight excava-
ton in the earth, Just deep enough to pre-
vent her single egg rolling from, its prints
tive position; while the albatross throws
mp little mound of earth, grass and shells,
eight or ten inches high, and about the
size of water bucket, on the. summit OF
which she forms her nest, and thus looks
down upon her nearest neighbors and best
friends. IN .is8ffs
None of the nests in these rookeries are
ever left unoccupied for single moment,
until the eggs are matched and the young
ones old enough to take care Of themselves.
The male goes TO sea III search OF food un-
Ill his hunger is appeased he then prompt
ly returns and affectionately takes the
place Of his mate, while she resorts TO the
same element Cor the Ike purpose. In the
interchange of these kind Offices, they SO
contrive it as not to leave the eggs uncov-
cred at all /; the present incumbent (say
the femnic) making room for the partner O.
her cares and pleasures on his return from
the sea, while he nestles in by her side un-
til the eggs are completely covered by his
feathers. BY this precaution they prevent
their eggs being stolen by the other birds,
which, would be the case were they left ex-
posed; for the females are so ambitious of
producing a large family at once, that they
rob each other Whenever they have an OPP
portunity. Similar depredations are also
committed by bird called The crook, which
is equally mischievous as the monkey
The royal penguin is generally foremost in
fclonies of this description, and never neg
lects an opportunity Of robbing neighbor.
Indeed, it often happens that when the Pc
riod Of incubation is terminated, the young
brood will consist Of three or four different
kinds OF birds in one nest. This is strong
circumstantial evidence that the parent
bird is not more honest than her neighbors.
To stand at little distance and observe
the movements of the birds in these rookie
ries, is not only amusing, bat edifying, and
even affecting. The spectacle is truly
worthy the contemplation of . philosophic
mind. You will see them marching round
the encampment in The outside path, or
public promenade, in pairs, or in squads Of
four, six or eight, forcibiy reminding you
of officers and subalterns on a parade day.
At the same time, the camp, or rookery, is
| in continual motion; some penguins pass
ing through the different paths, or alleys,
on their return from an aquatic excursion,
eager to caress their males after tempo
rary absence while the latter are passing
out, in'their turn. in quest of refreshment
and recreation. Atsthe same time, the air
| is almost darkened by an immense number
Of the albatross towering over. tho rookery
like dense cloud, some continually alighf-
ing and meeting their cempanions, while
others are constantly rising and shaping