NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA, 258 



trances to the holes are worn flat and smooth by continual paddling from the 

 feet of the birds, and, as well as the whole sides of the island, are moist and 

 slippery with the ordure. The sides of the island from just above high water 

 mark to the very top, are perforated with innumerable holes, but on the top it- 

 self not a single burrow is to be seen. At the further extremity of the hole, 

 which is usually a little enlarged, the single egg is deposited, always a slight 

 bed of dried grasses being first arranged to keep it from the moist earth. I 

 have indeed found eggs lying on the bare ground near the entrance of the 

 burrows, whither they had apparently been dragged by the bird as it hurriedly 

 made its exit ; but in no instance did I find one in its usual position at the 

 further extremity, that was not upon a layer of grass. I noticed this fact the 

 more particularly, since Audubon expressly states that no nest whatever ia 

 formed for the reception of the egg. Without for a moment doubting the accu- 

 racy of that great naturalist's observations, the present case is only additional 

 proof of the extent to which the habits of birds are influenced by circum- 

 stances ; the position of nests, the number of eggs, &c., varying much, and the 

 food changing in a measure with every change of locality. The eggs measure 

 two and a half inches in length, by one and three-fourths in greatest diameter, 

 varying very little from this standard ; in shape, which is a rather rounded 

 ovate, they dilfer in being more or less obtuse at the smaller end. The great- 

 est diameter is nearly opposite the middle. The shell is usually more or less 

 granulated, butdiflfers much in the extent of the granulation. The color is white 

 or whitish, varying from nearly pure to a brownish hue, the latter color being 

 in the shell, and not caused by soiling or discoloration. They are marked 

 with obsolete, sometimes almost imperceptible dots, spots, and lines of light 

 purplish, mostly attracted into a ring around the large end. There are some- 

 times a few irregular splashes of very light yellowish brown. Audubon is 

 clearlj' in error when he states that they are simply " pure white." At that 

 date, (July 25th) they all with few exceptions contained young about to be 

 hatched. 



Another extract from my journal will portray, perhaps more graphically 

 than could be done in any other style, the manners of the birds on being in- 

 vaded. " Hardly had our boat touched the shore than we leaped out, guns in 

 hand, and at once scattered over the island. As we advanced along the sides, 

 the afifrighted birds darted past us like arrows, issuing from their burrows 

 beneath our feet and around us, and all making directly for the water. Those 

 already disturbed flew in every direction above us, while thousands rested on 

 the water in a dense mass at a little distance. I took my stand on a flat rock, 

 and in less than an hour a pile of Puffins, more than I could carry, lay at my 

 feet. Shortly after I commenced firing the birds formed themselves into an 

 immense circle, of a diameter of perhaps a third of a mile, one point of which 

 justgrazed the island. It was astonishing to see with what precision this circle 

 was preserved, each bird flying directly in the wake of the one that preceded. 

 I had merely to stand facing the advancing birds, and no better opportunity 

 for continual slaughter could be desired, I now realized what I had been told, 

 but had found hard to believe, that a wagon might be filled with the birds by 

 a tolerably expert marksman, shooting them at just such a moment that they 

 should fall into it. The poor things seemed not at all aware of the nature of 

 the danger that threatened them ; flying so close past me that I could almost 

 strike them with my gun. During the continual firing the birds would emerge 

 from their holes every minute or two ; and after shooting for half an hour on 

 one spot I was not a little surprised to see two or three start out almost from be- 

 tween my feet, and in great fright make the best of their way down to the water. 

 On emerging from the holes the birds generally looked a^'ound for a moment to 

 see what was the matter, and then in great haste fluttered and tumbled down to 

 the water below, in which they immediately dived, and swimming swiftly under 

 water reappeared at some distance. From the countless thousands flying 



1861.] 



