192 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



Buzzard case — and went out with him to one of the 

 islands that lie off the west coast of Mull. 



It was only a small island — a mere volcanic 

 eruption — with a bold looking front of precipitous 

 rocks. There were, however, on the flatter portions 

 of it some soft peaty-looking places ; the birds were 

 there in some hundreds. I tried to land, but 

 although the sea was comparatively calm — owing to 

 the swell from the Atlantic — I couldn't, so I had 

 to content myself with getting what I could from 

 the birds that flew past me in the boat or allowed 

 me to approach near enough to them on the water. 



The Puffin is a wonderfully quick diver, and often 

 manages to get under the water before the shot 

 reaches him. 



These birds are quite a sight in the breeding- 

 season when they sit perched on the sea cliffs in 

 thousands, and when they rise the sky is darkened 

 with them. 



Howard Saunders says: "This species is the most 

 abundant of the rock birds which visit the Faroes, 

 and there are vast colonies on the coast of Norway, 

 especially north of the Arctic circle, as well as in 

 Iceland." Farther on he says : " We find the Puffin 

 nesting on many of the smaller Channel Islands as 

 well as on the coast of France, especially in 

 Brittany." 



