PUFFIN. 363 



This singular looking bird, whose aspect is rendered so 

 peculiar by the form and colours of its bill, is only a summer 

 visiter to the British Islands, making its appearance early in 

 April, and departing by the end of August. High rocks or 

 cliffs on the sea coast, or the short turf frequently to be 

 found on the table land above, are the places selected by 

 Puffins for the great object of their visit, the reproduction of 

 their species, and various localities about which they assemble 

 in vast numbers may be enumerated. In Ireland, Mr. W. 

 Thompson says, the Puffin is a regular summer visitant, 

 having breeding-haunts around the coast. This bird visits 

 the Isle of Man ; the coast of Anglesey ; the Scilly Islands, 

 where it is more common than in Cornwall ; the high cliffs 

 of the Isle of Wight, between the needle rocks and Fresh- 

 water gate ; the Yorkshire coast ; the Fern Islands ; Puffin 

 island in the Frith of Forth, and others of the numerous 

 Scottish islands. 



Early in May these birds deposit their single large egg, 

 sometimes in crevices and fissures on the perpendicular sur- 

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

 front. Rabbit warrens are not unfrequent on our coast, and 

 where this happens the Puffins often contend with the rab- 

 bits 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 occasion- 

 ally with two entrances. When engaged in digging, which 

 is principally performed by the males, they are sometimes so 

 intent upon their work as to admit of being taken by the 

 hand, and the same may also be done during incubation. 



