For some reason, a man plays bagpipes for a penguin in 1904. (Image by William S Bruce.)

This article from Popular Science Monthly, which was reprinted in the August 4, 1893 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, introduces the odd Antarctic bird known as the “penguin” to its readers–and then proceeds to describe clubbing them to death and eating them. It’s jaw-dropping by today’s standards or any standards. An excerpt:

“Penguins are the strangest creatures ever seen. They are supposedly funny as the quack and strut about with their padded feet over the snow, or, coming to a slope glide swiftly downward toboggan fashion upon their breast. If one lands on the piece of ice they are resting upon they approach fearlessly with a threatening ‘quack! quack!’ For their inquisitiveness they, too, often received the handle of the club, for it was soon found that their flesh greatly resembled that of the hare, and upon them we had many a tasty and substantial meal. The emperor penguin is very difficult to kill; he will live after his skull has been most hopelessly smashed; the best way to put an end to them is to pith them. Six of us one day set out to capture one alive, and so strong was the bird that five with difficulty got their hold, and, after he was bound with strong cords and nautical knots, he flapped his flippers and released himself.”