CATALOGUE OP^ BIRDS. IQI 



CASE 37. 



THE PUFFIN. 



Order, Pygopodes. Family, AlcidcB. 



This is a very funny looking species with its 

 grotesque bill, which seems to be the characteristic 

 feature of the bird. One common local name for the 

 Puffin is "Sea Parrot," which probably arises from 

 some fancied similarity in the beak to that of the 

 Parrot ; " Coulter-neb " has reference to the plough- 

 share-like shape. 



This bird is the sole representative in the 

 Atlantic of a well marked group abundant in the 

 North Pacific, and even in winter it is seldom 

 absent from British waters. Breeding-stations exist 

 on Flamborough Head, the Faroes, the Scilly 

 Islands, Lundy, Wales, Scotland — notably St. Kilda 

 — and south-west of Ireland. The nest is either in a 

 hole in a cliff, or, what is more usual, in soft peaty 

 ground, into which these little birds burrow like 

 rabbits to the extent of some three or four feet ; the 

 ground being often so honeycombed as to yield to 

 the tread. Only one pear-shaped ^<g^ is laid, very 

 large for the size of the bird ; the colour is a dull 

 white, freckled or zoned with pale brown or lilac. 



I was staying at the Salen Hotel, Mull, when I 

 obtained the specimens. I hired a good-sized sailing- 

 boat one day from a lobster fisherman who lived at 

 Ulva — an island mentioned in connection with the 



