Fig. 31. Showing the Position of the Two Eggs
Fig. 32. An Adélie in “Ecstatic” Attitude
PART II
DOMESTIC LIFE OF THE ADÉLIE PENGUIN
Laying and incubation of the eggs : The Adélies' habits in the water : Their games : Care of the young : The later development of their social system.
On November 3 several eggs were found, and on the 4th these were beginning to be plentiful in places, though many of the colonies had not yet started to lay.
Let me here call attention to the fact that up to now not a single bird out of all those thousands had left the rookery once it had entered it. Consequently not a single bird had taken food of any description during all the most strenuous part of the breeding season, and as they did not start to feed till November 8 thousands had to my knowledge fasted for no fewer than twenty-seven days. Now of all the days of the year these twenty-seven are certainly the most trying during the life of the Adélie.