PUFFIN. 253 



(Harting, Introd. p. xii. to Rood's — Birds of Cornwall). Mr. 

 Frederick Holme, also says — "The Scilly Isles were held in the 

 fourteenth century, under the King as Earl of Cornwall, by 

 Ranulph de Blancminster, for an annual payment of six shillings 

 and eight-pence, or three hundred Puffins at Michaelmas ; probably 

 salted or dried birds, as fresh ones could not be procured at that 

 time." Lundy Island, Priestholm, and Puffin Island off the 

 coast of Anglesea, are also noted haunts of the Puffin. 



Birds, small and great, of endless shapes and colours, 



Here flew and perched, there swam and dived at pleasure ; 

 ***** 



Some sought their food among the finny shoals, 

 Swift darting from the clouds, emerging soon 

 With slender captives glittering in their beaks ; 

 These in recesses of steep crags constructed 

 Their eyries inaccessible, and trained 

 Their hardy broods to forage in all weathers. 

 ***** 



Millions of creatures such as these possessed those busy isles 



Montgomery— TAe Pelican Island. 



