BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 183 



same. It is small sliced off (trongue) in front, 

 especially at the lower mandible, wanting the pleat 

 (om-let) at the base, and flattened laterally on a 

 level with the nostrils, where a solid horny skin 

 of a bright lead-colour is replaced by a short 

 membrane." The whole paper by Dr. Bureau on 

 this subject is most interesting, but is much too 

 long for me to insert here ; the nature, how- 

 ever, of the change which takes place must be so 

 interesting to many of my readers who are familiar 

 with the Puffin in its breeding plumage, and who, 

 in spite of the Bird Act, perhaps occasionally enjoy 

 a day's " Barbeloting," that I could not help 

 quoting as much of the paper as would be sufficient 

 to point out the general nature of the change. 



The Puffin is included in Professor Ansted's list, 

 but marked as occurring only in Guernsey and 

 Sark. There are two specimens in the Museum ; 

 one in the ordinary summer plumage, and one 

 apparently in the winter plumage above described ; 

 but it is difficult to be quite certain on the subject, 

 as it has been smeared over with birdstuffer's 

 paint, probably with the view of making it as like 

 the ordinary summer plumage as possible. 



159. Razorbill. Alca torda, Linnaeus. French, 

 " Pingouin macroptere." — The Razorbill is not by 

 any means numerous in the Channel Islands, but 

 a few breed about Ortack, and, as has been said 



