PUFFIN. 277 



is more diagonal than that of the descending Guillemot, and the 

 wings vibrate rather than beat ; the bird looks like some thick- 

 bodied dragon-fly. This curious vibrating flight is noticeable 

 at other times, especially when clouds of birds wheel in accord ; 

 indeed, the Puffin is an active and agile bird on the wing, turn- 

 ing smartly with a steep heel over. The deep guttural a7-rr is 

 heard in the colony and on the water ; it is a discontented and 

 complaining sound, and has an angrier ring when the bird is 

 rudely evicted from its burrow. The note varies or the bird has 

 distinct calls, but all are deep, and at times, as Mr. Aplin aptly 

 describes it, is "like one of the nocturnal calls of the cat." 

 Naumann says that the bird does not retaliate if handled so 

 long as it is in its hole, but though it will strive to shrink 

 away from an intruding hand, the first evidence of occupation 

 is often a savage and painful nip. 



It is true that a rabbit burrow is occupied if one is handy, 

 but most of the tunnels are excavated by the birds themselves ; 

 in a large colony the springy cushions of thrift and the turf are 

 undermined by a labyrinth of burrows ; the foot sinks into the 

 superficial tunnels. The Puffin digs vigorously, scratching the 

 soil backwards with its feet. A heavy, peculiar smell hangs 

 over this densely crowded colony ; the bird is not particular 

 about sanitation. Many holes have more than one exit, and 

 the position of the nest, when nest is made, may be a i^w inches 

 from the entrance or many feet beyond reach. Holes under 

 rocks or amongst loose stones are occupied ; indeed, all the 

 Puffin demands is a hole. The ^%g may be laid on the bare 

 soil or an untidy nest of wet grass, seaweed, thrift, and feathers 

 be collected in a rounded chamber. The single ^'^•g (Plate 

 108), l-aid in the latter half of I^Iay, is dull white, rough in 

 texture, and usually faintly zoned with grey or reddish spots ; 

 it becomes much soiled from the wet feet of the incubating 

 birds. The nestling has long sooty down, with a whitish patch 

 Qn the under paits; its short bill and legs are slate-grey. It 



