5*4 



PUFFIN. Class II. 



rife of the Puffin from the ground very difficult, 

 and it meets with many falls before it gets on wing -, 

 but when that is efFe&ed, few birds fly longer or 

 itronger. 

 Place. Thefe birds frequent the coafts of feveral parts 



of Great Britain and Ireland-, but no place in 

 oreater numbers than Prieftholm IJle*, where their 

 flocks may be compared to fwarms of bees for mul- 

 titude. Thefe are birds of paflfage-, refort there 

 annually about- the fifth or tenth of April, quit the 

 place (almoft to a bird) and return twice or thrice 

 before they fettle to burrow and prepare for ova- 

 tion and incubation. They begin to burrow the 

 flrftweek in May, but fome few fa ve themfelves 

 that trouble, and diflodge the rabbets from their 

 holes, and take pofleffion of them till their return 

 from the ifle. Thofe which form their own bur- 

 rows, are at that time fo intent on the work as to 

 fuffer themfelves to be taken by the hand. This 

 talk falls chiefly to the fhare of the males, for on 

 difleclion ten out of twelve proved of that fex. 

 The males alfo aflift in incubation ; for on direc- 

 tion ftveral males were found fitting. 



The firft young are hatched the beginning of 

 July, the old ones (hew vaft affection towards them; 

 and feem totally infenfible of danger on the breed- 

 ing feafon. If a parent is taken at that time, and 

 fufpended by the wings it will in a fort of deipair 



* Off the coaft of Anglcfea. 



treat 



