El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-08
= PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH POLE =
Fishermen
CBy Garrett p. servisu)

-HE strangest inhabitants of the
Antarctic continent are the birds
called penguins- company OF
them, seen at a distance on the polar
SHOWS, bears so striking a resemblance
to an assemblage of human beings that
explorers unaccustomed to their ap-
pearance, have often been startled by
the momentary belief that they had
come upon a tribe Of short, stout men,
dressed in black, or blue and white, and
greeting their visitors with the most
extraordinary gesticulations-
There IS one species OF these remark
able birds, known as the emperor pen
gum, because 1t seems to mimic the
well known figure of Napoleon in his
white vest and trousers and gray coat,
which sometimes attains a height Of
between three and four feet and
weight OF so or 80 pounds. Walking
erect on his short legs, the emperor
makes a salute by lowering his lonS
beak on his round breast and then be-
gins a long discourse in his strange,
raucous language, and If there is no
response, he repeats the performance
again and again, expecting each time
an answer This eXiled image OF hu-
manity inhabiting his lone SnOW-soV-
cred and ice-bound continent, seems as
tonished. and offended. as we'll he may
be by the impOliteness of his visitors,
who usually answer his hospitable
greetings with uncivil laughter. or
blows of a stick
In thus receiving strangers in his
country the emperor follows an invari-
able rule Of conduct, which has gov
erned the intercourse OF his kind from
time immemoriaL Whenever two groups
of these penguins encounter the CHIEFS
advance and salute, in the same man
ner already described. and having ex-
changed compliments, with appropriate
speeches. they make a circular sweep
In the air with their beaks indicating
that the ceremony is ended, and after
that the two parties either separate or
continue amicably on their way to-
gether.
An Old Family.
The penguins OF which there are sew
oraI species. are believed by naturalists
to have inhabited the Antarctic CONT
nent from the beginning of the tertiary
age, so that they are among the Oldest
families of the animal kingdom, and
they have always kept to their own
quarter OF the world. While they are
Enthusiastically birds, they differ from all
others in many particulars Their wings
are mere rudiments. covered not with
true feathers. but with something more
nearly resembling scales. They do not
attempt to fly with them, but when
they are driven to increase their speed
of locomotion they fall flat on the sur
face OF the snow and propel themselves
along rapidly Win their snort wings
and stumpy legs. Ordinarily they walk
erect, presenting a 'comical appearance.
like supernatrally grave and reverend
signors."
Their food consists OF small fish. and
especially small shell fish. and they are
very expert swimmers and divers. They
place their rookeries on high points OF
rock. and go in companies TO the shore
of the sea to fish One Of the illustra-
tons above shows how picturesque is
the appearance of one of these compa-
hanging the water. and from 1t plunge
one after another into the sea. making
great splashes as they strike the water
Having finished their fishing opera
lions. they return to their rOokerieS,
which are often situated at a consider
able distance. They carry back fish to
feed their young. which are left in the |
nests on the rocks, and naturaIists who
have seen them in their native haunts I
ascribe to them a great deal of parental (
tenderness and care and apparent fond /
tic winter they abandon their rookeries
and 90 farther north, in order to find 7
water not covered with ice, in which to Z
fish. With the return OF summer they
resume their life at the rookeries, !
which sometimes constitute veritable /
cities, with a population of several hun (
dred thousand individuals. It has been /
observed that the same birds apparent !
" return to the same rookeries season !
after season.
Very Clean.
These curious birds are very careful 4
Of the cleanliness of their persons and /
rookeries. When they first encounter
men. they show no fear. installing
them, possibly, for another race Of their ,