9o6 



THE TUFTED I'lTFIN. 



'I'lie most nunaiuic siluatii'ii (il)scr\c(l was llial nf an egg mi Williamson 

 Rocks placed ten feet in at the end of a crexice tunned l)y the gnawing nf the 

 tide, a "thunder jng." which at cei'tain stages of the water lioomed and 

 gurgled heliiw the sitting hird in a must duleful atiil even terrifying fashion. 



()nl\- one egg is laid, unrmalh- of a dull white line with faint \ermicula- 

 tions of hrowii and ])nrphsh. hut usualK' so soiled h\' contact with the earth as 

 to pass for (lingv l)rown all oxer. The nest lining is usually of the scantiest, a 

 few salal lea\es or crossed hlades of grass: hut occasionally some enterprising 

 "parrot" proxides a warmer hed. 



Taken on Carroll Islet. 



Ploto by the Author. 



A PUFFIN BANK. FKOM ABOVE. 



The females are close sitters, and molestation hx' hand is unwise. The 

 immense com])ressed heak of the bird is capable of iiillicting a sex'ere wound, 

 and the Puffin is quick to use it in defense. Doubtless, also, this weapon sub- 

 serx'es sotiie important u^e in the h;uidliiig of prex-. but if so it is as yet 

 uiikui iw 11. 



The babx- Pufhn breaks sliell alioul the hrst id' Julx'. lie is a mere 

 pult-ball of down, for he is deiiselx' cox'eret.l at birtli xxith doxxn ,'it least an 

 inch long, and of a dull slatx black thruout The onlv touch of color about 



