FOR THE BIRDS.

No wonder tuxedos are called "penguin suits." Penguins are well-dressed birds. And topping the best-dressed list are sweater-clad fairy penguins in Tasmania, Australia. But the knitwear has more than style: It protects the smallest penguin species--30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in.) tall--from harm due to oil spillage.

The indigenous (native) birds' southern Australian habitats border heavy shipping traffic. "Birds are regularly found with varying degrees of oil on them," says Craig Woodfield of the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT). The sweaters prevent the wee penguins from preening their feathers and ingesting toxic oil. The sweaters also keep the birds warm. "Oil clogs the penguin's feathers, counteracting their natural waterproofing and insulating properties," Woodfield explains. "This may result in the penguin freezing to death."

The TCT ran a drive to stockpile sweaters for Oil Spill Response kits distributed around the state. So far, more than 3,000 custom-knit wool pullovers have poured in. While the style and size is specified for penguin-fit, "the most common question I get is, `which color wool should I use?'" says Woodfield. Penguins, of course, don't care.