92 alcidj:. 



are many others in Wales ; also in the Isle of Man. On the 

 east side of England the Flamborough cliffs in Yorkshire, 

 and the Fame Islands, are the only localities known. In 

 Scotland the breeding-places of this species are very numer- 

 ous, and the same may be said of Ireland. 



Early in May these birds deposit their single large egg, 

 sometimes in crevices and fissures in the perpendicular sur- 

 face of the clifls, at the depth of three or four feet from the 

 front. Rabbit warrens are not unfrequent on our coast, 

 and it is said that the Puffins often contend with the 

 rabbits for the possession of some of the burrows. Many 

 Puffins, Mr. Selby observes, " resort to the Fern Islands, 

 selecting such as are covered with a stratum of vegetable 

 mould ; and here they dig their own burrows, from there 

 not being any rabbits to dispossess upon the particular 

 islets they frequent. They commence this operation about 

 the first week in May, and the hole is generally excavated 

 to the depth of three feet, often in a curving direction, and 

 occasionally with two entrances. When engaged in digging, 

 which is principally performed by the males, they are some- 

 times so intent upon their work as to admit of being taken 

 by the hand, and the same may also be done during incuba- 

 tion. At this period I have frequently obtained specimens, 

 by thrusting my arm into the burrow, though at the risk of 

 receiving a severe bite from the powerful and sharp-edged 

 bill of the old bird. At the further end of this hole the 

 single egg is deposited, which in size nearly equals that of 

 a Pallet. The length is two inches three lines, by one inch 

 and seven lines in breadth. Its colour when first laid is 

 white, sometimes spotted with pale cinereous, but it soon 

 becomes soiled and dirty from its immediate contact with the 

 earth, no materials being collected for a nest at the end of 

 the burrow. The young are hatched after a month's incuba- 

 tion, and are then covered with a long blackish down above, 

 which gradually gives place to the feathered plumage, so 

 that, at the end of a month or five weeks, they are able to 

 quit the burrow and follow their parents to the open sea. 

 Soon after this time, or about the second week in August, 



