82 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



turning belly upwards, from a dark bird to a white one is at first confusing. 

 They frequently stand up erect in the water and flap their wings, or lie low 

 washing the water through their wing feathers. When fishing they swim along, 

 thrusting their long bill and head from time to time into the water looking for 

 the fish, and suddenly disappear with but little apparent effort, leaving only a 

 ripple behind them. Sometimes they bring the fish to the surface and seem to 

 have difficulty in swallowing it, occasionally dropping it on the water and pick- 

 ing it up again. 



Stearns and Couesi mention a perfect albino, in the collection of Mr. 

 Ruthven Deane, which was shot in Salem Harbor. 



The differential points in the recognition of the Red-throated Diver are 

 given under Loon and Holboell's Grebe. 



6 [13] Fratercula arctica (Linn.). 

 Puffin; "Sea Parrot"; " Paroqueet." 



Not uncommon winter visitor ; October 16 to March. 



The Puffin, while on our coast, prefers the waters off the rocky headlands, 

 especially at the end of Cape Ann. There is, however, a specimen in the col- 

 lection of the Peabody Academy, taken in Plum Island River, — the sound back 

 of Plum Island, — on February 15th, 1884. At Rockport the fishermen are 

 familiar with this bird and call them " Paroqueets." 



Puffins ride lightly on the water and are expert divers. They are tame 

 birds and easily approached. Their flight is rapid and direct, the bird often 

 swaying first to one side and then to the other like all the Akidce. 



Puffins look like small Ducks, very short and chubby and entirely destitute 

 of neck. In the late winter the light gray, almost white, of their cheeks con- 

 trasts with the black ring or collar, while in the fall and early winter this con- 

 trast, although plainly visible, is not so marked, for the cheeks are darker, more 

 mouse color. The bill, too, which in nuptial plumage is so large and parrot-like, 

 is considerably smaller in winter, but is still characteristic in shape. 



' W. A. Stearns and Elliott Coues : New England Bird Life, part 2, p. 390, 1883. 



