254 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



around me I did not hear the slightest note of any kind ; they flew in per- 

 fect silence. When wounded, if they fell on the land, they immediately ran 

 and threw themselves into the nearest hole, if in the water, they dived and swam 

 as far under the surface as their strength allowed. I observed not the slight- 

 est indication of any sympathy for those wounded or killed on the part of the 

 other birds, as stated by Audubon. The survivors did not notice them in the 

 least, though they lay exposed everywhere on the rocks, and floated about on 

 the water." 



The flight of the Puffin when once on wing is firm, well sustained, very 

 swift and performed with short, quick, vigorous beats. When it takes flight 

 from a rock whence it can project itself into the air, it at once supports itself 

 without difficulty ; but when on the water it is obliged to flap over the surface 

 for several yards before it can rise on wing. When getting under weigh, the 

 feet are extended backwards, and outwards on each side of the tail, which is 

 spread, but they are soon drawn up, and the tail closed. When shot at and 

 not touched, like the Auks they swerve from their course, open and shut the 

 tail, and extend the feet. When standing on a rock or at the entrance of their 

 burrows, where they alight without the slightest difficulty, they present a 

 peculiarly grotesque appearance, such as is afforded by no other bird. Their 

 short thickset bodies, big heads, enormous brightly colored bills and red legs, 

 give them a comical appearance, which is enhanced by their upright position 

 and the odd nature of their movements, as they twist the head and jerk the 

 body in various directions. Though on a three days acquaintance we were 

 somewhat familiarized with their movements, we could never quite restrain a 

 laugh when we saw one thus " attitudinizing" on the edge of a rock. 



When taken in hand the Puffin utters a loud, hoarse, croaking scream, at the 

 same time fighting most furiously. They are capable of inflicting a very severe 

 wound with their powerful bills, easily drawing the blood. Their long and 

 strong inner claw is also an effective weapon, so that by dint of scratching, 

 biting, and struggling, they proved difficult customers to manage. The most 

 courageous of our party seldom held one more than a few moments before he 

 was glad to set it at liberty. Indeed, their rage at being caught is so ungovern- 

 able, that two held together attacked each other with fury, and a single one 

 held up by the wings, bit its own wing and scratched its own face most en- 

 ergetically. 



I could not but admire the beautiful provision of nature with regard to fur- 

 nishing this bird with the means of excavating its burrow with facility. The 

 inner claw of each foot is very long, much curved and excessively sharp. To 

 preserve it so, when not in use, it always lies perfectly flat, so that the point 

 does not rest on the ground. In digging and fighting, however, it is held up- 

 right, and then becomes a very effective weapon. The bill, always so remark- 

 ble in form and color, varies much with age in size and shape, and also in 

 the extent of the ridges and furrows. The color, however, is always pretty 

 constant ; and a description of its tints, with those of the eyes, feet, &c, taken 

 from a very perfect fresh bird, may not be uninteresting, as the color fades 

 much in dried specimens. Base of the bill and first ridge dull yellowish 

 white, between the two dark bluish ash ; rest of bill bright Vermillion red, the 

 tip of the lower mandible and the two last furrows being yellowish white. 

 Inside of mouth and warty rugose excrescences at the base of the commissure 

 bright chrome. Iris hazel, eyelids Vermillion, the short processes above and 

 below the eye bluish ash. Legs and feet bright orange red, claws black. 



I was much surprised while at Rigolet, to see a great number of Puffins fly- 

 ing over the surface of the Bay in large compact flocks. Whether they had 

 come from the island described, or whether there was another island in the 

 immediate vicinity, I am unable to say, though I think the latter most prob- 

 ably the case. These birds proved rather shy, avoiding our boats with 

 some care. The fact of their being found so far inland is worth recording. 



[Aug. 



