ALCID.E. 523 



power of flight. Tliey feed on various kinds of 

 small fisli, and whatever else they can procure near 

 the surface of the sea. 



The most familiar examples of this remarkable 

 sub -family are — 



The Pufiins {Fratercola), well known on the northern 

 coasts of our own island. On a first glance at a Puffin 

 we cannot fail to be struck by the short and inelegant 

 contour of its figure, and by the strange shape and brilliant 

 colour of its beak, features which impart a singular aspect 

 to the physiognomy of this inhabitant of the ocean, where, 

 liowever, as if to belie its round and awkward ajjj^ear- 

 ance, it displays great agility, and an arrow-like quick- 

 ness of motion. Its beak, deep, compressed, and pointed, 

 with a sharp-ridged keel above and bek)w, aftbrds the 

 V)eau ideal of an instrument for cutting through the water, 

 a circumstance the more necessary when considered in 

 connection with a form of body apparently ill adapted for 

 diving. The plumage, moreover, of these birds is thick, 

 close, and smooth, so completely throwing off every par- 

 ticle of water as to render it impervious to wet. 



The Puffin arrives on our coasts some time in April, 

 but as it is not able to contend Avith storms, the time of 

 its arrival is not certain. On its first appearance on our 

 shore it is generally lean, but in a week or two becomes 

 excessively fat, and begins to seek for a proper place to 

 deposit its solitary egg m security. 



These birds leave this country towards the end of 

 August. When the time comes for them to depart, they 

 assemble in immense multitudes on the rocks, from which 

 they are supposed to fly for a considerable distance, and 

 then to complete their migration by swimming on the sea. 

 They usually fly very near the surface, and are frequently 

 oljserved to dip their w^mgs into the Avater, which seems 

 to strengthen them in their flight. 



Their diet consists principally of sprats and other 

 small fishes ; they retain the food intended for their 

 young until partially digested, and then disgorge it into 

 their mouths. Their bite is very severe, and they take 

 such secure hold that the most common way of catching 

 them is by introducing a stick into their holes, Avhich 



