The Puffin 173 



THE PUFFIN (FRATERCULA ARCTICA). 



THIS curious bird, usually called Sea Parrot by 

 fishermen, is found in this vicinity from March 

 to Autumn. Its usual companions, the Guille- 

 mots, also accompany it on the Fames during breeding 

 time. 



It may be said to take an exceedingly wide range during 

 the summer, for some of the species breed on the southern 

 coasts of England and Ireland. On the Bass Rock, in 

 Scotland, the holes in the ruins of the old fortifications 

 afford a retreat, burrows being also made in tne shelving 

 ground in front of the building. On a small rocky island 

 opposite the harbour of North Berwick a large colony of 

 these birds used to resort. 



Various island and northern tribes in whose neighbour- 

 hood they breed have been known to use its flesh as an 

 article of diet, and the " Voyagers round the Coast of 

 Scotland and the Isles " have stated that their chief sus- 

 tenance consisted of the small sea-fowl (puffin). They 

 have been known to breed in large numbers in Labrador, 

 hence the previous statement that the bird takes a very 

 wide range for its haunts. 



Now as to plumage. Cheeks and throat pale grey, 

 when viewed from the side appearing as a round pale 

 patch on the side of the head ; the colour is darker at the 

 sides of the chin and immediately behind the eye, where 

 the line separating the auricular feathers from the others 

 is apparent ; eyes protected by a large scale above and 

 below, that above triangular, that below oblong ; crown 

 forming a band to the occiput, collar round the throat, 

 upper parts, wings, and tail, black ; on the crown and 

 collar, tinted with grey under parts pure white. 



The bill occupies the whole face of the bird, is very 

 much compressed, and is traversed on the madella by 

 three, on the mandible by two furrows ; the colours are 

 bluish-grey and orange-red ; the sides of the mouth are 

 furnished with a corrugated orange-yellow skin. Feet 

 and legs orange-red. 



