THE FARALLONES 283 



iiiU'l\- tlioii- i^TCHMiisli Idack plumage, with its snowy-white 

 wing patches, and tlieir coi-al-red feet; so often do they open 

 tiieir mouths to emit a high, squealing whistle, that its ooral- 

 red lining constitutes a l)y no means unimportant part of 

 their make-u]). 



But it is to the Tufted Puffin that the prize for originality 

 in costume must he awarded among Farallone birds. Par- 

 rot-like in appearance, he adds to tlie attractiveness of red 

 feet, a suri)risingly large, bright red and yellow bill, and 

 from the side of each white cheek si)rings a streaming 

 plume of straw-colored feathers. 



Y 



i. 



Tulled I'uffins 



The Puffin lives in burrows or holes under the rocks 

 where, if one would learn the strength of its singularly 

 shaped bill, one need only to insert one's hand ! 



Alurres, Gulls, Cormorants, Guillemots, and Puffins, 

 form the diurnal sea-bird life of the Farallones. But 

 abundant as they are, one has only to go out of doors after 

 dark to believe that birds are as numerous by night as they 

 are by day. Then, Cassin's Anklet, Leach's and the Ashy 

 Petrel come from their retreats in holes, cracks, and 

 crevices in the rocks and similar places. The air is tilled 

 with their weird and elfin cries. The first night on the 

 island, I was awakened by a startling scream, ''Come here; 

 come here ' ', apparently at my bedside ; but it proved to be 



