3i6 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



for instance Lundy Island, the Fame Islands, and the 

 Hebrides, its numbers being enormous and past all belief. 

 Breeding habits : The Puffin is a resident in the 

 British seas, but subject to much local movement after 

 the breeding season. Its favourite breeding-haunts are 

 the earthy parts of sea-cliffs, sloping downs covered 

 with turf, and low islands with a good depth of soil 

 or peat. At the Bass Rock many Puffins have formed 

 a colony amongst the walls of an old fortress ; at St. 

 Kilda I noticed another considerable colony in the 

 sandy cliff near the village, whilst the cliff Connacher 

 and the island of Doon at the latter place (St. Kilda) 

 contain colonics of this bird that perfectly overpower 

 one with their countless numbers. Few birds are so 

 gregarious as the Puffin. It also probably pairs for 

 life, and the same places are resorted to annually. In 

 most localities the Puffin makes its nest at the end of a 

 long and often winding burrow, which is usually ex- 

 cavated by the birds themselves, or sometimes a natural 

 hollow or crevice in the cliff or under a mass of fallen 

 rocks is utilized. More rarely a rabbit-burrow is annexed. 

 By the end of April both birds are engaged in making 

 this burrow, if circumstances demand it, which is often 

 several yards in length, though more often only a few 

 feet. At the end a slight nest of dry grass and some- 

 times a few feathers is formed. I have known several 

 pairs to nest in one large earth. When disturbed at the 

 breeding-places the Puffins that may chance to be outside 

 their holes take wing, usually going at once to the sea 

 with whirring wings, but not uttering a single note. 

 Those on their nests, however, rarely move until they 

 are pulled out. Great caution is required, and gloves 

 are advisable, as the disturbed Puffin resents intrusion, 

 and is able to inflict a nasty cut with its sharp beak and 

 claws. The throng of Puffins I disturbed from the 



