Class II. P U F F I N. 515 



treat itfelf mod cruelly by biting every part it can 

 reach ; and the moment it is loofed, will never 

 offer to efcape, but indantly refort to its unfled- 

 ged young : but this affection ceafes at the dated 

 time of migration, which is, mod punctually about 

 the eleventh of Auguft, when they leave fuch young 

 as cannot fly, to the mercy of the Peregrine Falcon, 

 who watches the mouths of the houfe for the ap- 

 pearance of the little deferted purlins which forced 

 by hunger are compelled to leave their burrows. 

 The Rev d . Mr. Hugh Davies, of Beaumaris, to 

 whom I am indebted for much of this account, in- 

 formed me that on the twenty-third of Auguft, fo 

 entire was the migration, that neither Puffin, Ra- 

 zor-Bill, Guillemot, or Tern was to be feen there. 



I mud add, that they lay only one egg, which 

 differ much in form ; fome have one end very a- 

 cute \ others have both extremely obtufe \ all are 

 white. 



Their flefh is exceflive rank, as they feed on fea 

 weeds and filh, efpecially Sprats : but when pick- 

 led and preferved with lpices, are admired by thofe 

 who love high eating. Dr. Caius tells us, that in 

 his days the church allowed them in lent, indead 

 of fifh : he alfo acquaints us, that they were taken 

 by means of ferrets, as we do rabbits : at prefent 

 they are either dug out, or drawn from their bur- 

 rows by a hooked dick : they bite extremely hard, 

 and keep fuch fad hold on whatfoever they faden, 

 as not to be eafily difengaged. Their none, when 



Vol. II. M m taken 



