South Georgia had been sighted by the English in 1675 and the Spanish in 1756, but the isolation and harsh climate gave no incentive for stalking sovereignty claims. James Cook provided an extensive survey of the island during his third voyage of discovery and took possession of the island for Great Britain in 1775.
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Eudyptes chrysolophus - The macaroni penguin is one of several crested penguins in the subfamily eudyptes. Declines in populations have been observed, but it is still the most abundant penguin of the 20 living species. Females begin the breeding cycle in the fifth year; males in their sixth. Most pairs bond for consecutive seasons. Two eggs are laid, but usually only the second and larger egg survives the brooding process. Both parents endure long periods of fasting by taking turns in caring for the chick and going out to sea.
