Those that moulted sometimes remained solitary whilst in the acuter stages, but nevertheless moulting parties often were seen looking very miserable, doubtless feeling in their unprotected state the effects of winds which were getting keener and more severe now that the sun was departing.
When all the youngsters had gone, some thousands of old birds still remained, and waited for many days after they had acquired their full plumage before they left. Then these in time disappeared, leaving the rookery empty and desolate. On March 12 I photographed the last party: all black-throated adults. Two days later a couple appeared on the beach, apparently having come back for a last look at us. Then these, too, disappeared, and as we looked at the empty silent beach we could not help contrasting it with the noise and bustle of a short time ago.
The last penguin had gone, and the sun disappearing below the horizon, left us alone with the Antarctic night.
APPENDIX
(A) Plumage and Soft Parts.
The following description of the plumage and soft parts of Pygoscelis Adeliæ, which is perfectly correct, is taken from the zoological report of the Discovery Expedition.
Soft Parts.
“Bill, when first hatched, blackish. A week old, black terminally, deep red at the gape and along the cutting edges. Immature of the first year, blackish. Adult, brick-red, the upper bill black terminally, and the mandible black along the cutting edge.
“Iris, brown; varying between reddish brown and greenish brown.