PENGUIN VISITORS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 147, 24 June 1933, Page 8

PENGUIN VISITORS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—A letter appeared recently in the "Evening Post" from a correspondent whose dog had captured a small penguin on the shore in Wellington harbour. -The writer asked for information. From the description the penguin was probably an adult small blue penguin. They are fairly common near Plimmerton. I have often- seen, them at sea within about a mile of the coast. \ They rest after fishing with their head _nd neck , out of the water. Their movements are very quick, and they disappear like a flash. The eye can scarcely follow the movement. I have never seen them come ashore and stand on the rocks like other species of Antarctic penguins, and apparently their habits are' mainly nocturnal. They nest in burrows'ih :the- cliffs, and probably come ashore after dark and leave for their fishing grounds at daybreak. Two instances have occurred of thenmaking their home under dwelling-houses at Plimmerton, when thei. weird cries and knockings caused consternation until the cause was'discovered. In the most recent instance the penguins would have to come ashore on a rocky coast where a* heavy swell is generally breaking, cross a highway with motor.traffic, squeeze through a thick hedge.: and cross a flower garden. As it is a populous neighbourhood; they would not have had a chance "had they not come after dark and left before daylight. In daylight'they would be a sure prize for dogs or children. Occasionally a | dead one is washed ashore. The last one I saw was dead, floating in Karehana | Bay, It was plump and the plumage good, | and no cause of death visible. As a mat-1 'ter of fact, anyone is more likely to see a dead one than a live one, as their head is small and their movements are so quick | that unless you get close 1.0 them they are not readily seen.—l' am, etc., i H. B. FRANCE. I Plimmerton, June 21. - i