544 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



their young at this time, when every other instinct is merged 

 in the desire and necessity of migration, probably after food, 

 no bird is more attentive to them in general ; since they 

 will suffer themselves to be taken by the hand, and use every 

 endeavor to save and screen their young, biting not only 

 their antagonist, but, when laid hold of by the wings, inflict- 

 ing bites on themselves, as if actuated by the agonies of 

 despair ; and when released, instead of flying away, they 

 hurry again into the burrow to their cherished young. 



The Puffin, essentially aquatic in its nature and habits, 

 makes no great progress in the air, taking wing with diffi- 

 culty ; and it walks on the whole length of the leg and foot 

 with a wriggling awkward gait. In tempestuous weather 

 they seek shelter in caverns, the holes of the nearest rocks, 

 in their burrows, or in the rabbit holes on the beach, in 

 which they dose till the return of calmer weather. Though 

 accustomed to the severest cold, they are unable to brave 

 the storm, and when overtaken by it are often drowned, and 

 cast dead on the shore. Their food consists of various 

 kinds of small fish, particularly sprats, the smaller kinds of 

 crabs, shrimps and sea-weeds, and it is not improbable but 

 that their sudden migrations are regulated by the presence or 

 absence of certain kinds of fish on which they delight to 

 feed. They are excessively rank in flavor, yet the young, 

 preserved with spices and pickled, are by some people much 

 admired. They are even potted at St. Kildaand elsewhere, 

 and sent to London as rarities. 



Though pertinacious in attachment to their favorite breed- 

 ing places, they have sometimes been known to desert them 

 in a very unaccountable manner. At the great isle of Arran, 

 Galway Bay, in Ireland, the stupendous cliffs to the south- 

 west of the island, which from time immemorial had been 

 the place of resort, or rather the natural habitation of such 

 numbers of Puflins, as is almost incredible, was at once de- 



