386 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



In the Mediterranean it apparently only ranges as far as the 

 Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and though generally more or less irregular 

 in its occurrence, is probably less rare in some parts than it is usually 

 supposed to be. In Sicily, for instance, the species is in some years 

 tolerably abundant. 



The Eazorbill is essentially a deep-sea bird, and ni the breeding 

 season frequents rocky coasts and steep cliffs which afford suitable 

 nesting sites. It is very sociable and gregarious, and breeds in vast 

 colonies, often in company with, or in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of Gulls, and other sea-fowl. It files, swims and dives well, but is 

 quite out of its element on land, and shuns the flat, level shore, 

 resorting only to cliff-ledges and other rocky localities, from whence 

 it can easily take wing. It feeds principally on small fish, which it 

 captures chiefly by diving ; herring-fry seems to form an important 

 item in its diet, and if deprived of that and other natm-al prey, the 

 bird will occasionally leave the sea and visit inland waters in search 

 of food. 



FRATERCULA ARCTICA (Linnaeus). 



PUFFIN. 



Alca arctica, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 211 (1766). 



Fratercula arctica, Leach, Syst. Cat. p. 42 (1816) ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. 



Birds Bnt. Mas. xxvi, p. 616. 

 Mormon arctica, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 212 (1867). 

 Mormon fratercula, Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 298 ; id., J. f. 0. 1893, p. 105. 



Description. — Male, spring, from Porto Farina, North Tunisia. 



Forehead and crown blackish ; lores, region round the base of the bill 

 and round the eyes greyisb-browu, shading into grey on the chin and throat, 

 and round the neck to the nape, wliere it joins the dark feathers extending 

 from the crown ; a band on the fore neck and the remainder of the upper 

 plumage black, with metallic reflections; underparts below the neck pure 

 white, with tufts of brown feathers on the thighs. 



Ills greyish-brown, a fleshy patch above and below the eye slate-blue ; 

 bill orange on the forepart and bluish-grey on the basal part, barred with 

 peculiar horny ridges which are shed separately in autumn ; fleshy part 

 round the gape orange ; feet orange. 



Total length 11-25 inches, wing (incomplete), culmen 1-60, height of bill 

 at base 1-2.5. tarsus 1-10. 



Adult female resembles the male, but is rather smaller. 



