AUKS, MURRES and PUFFINS—Family Alcide 
PUFFIN; SEA PARROT 
13. Fratercula arctica. 13 inches. 
Puflins are grotesque birds, with short legs, stout 
bodies and very large, thin bills, that of the common 
Puffin being 2 in. in length and about the same in 
height; the bill is highly colored with red and yellow, 
and the feet are red; eyes, white. It will be noticed 
that the blackish band across the throat does not touch 
the chin, this distinguishing it from the Horned Puffin 
of the Pacifie coast. Adults in winter shed the greater 
portion of their bill, lose the little horns that project 
over the eye, and the face is blackish; they then re- 
semble young birds. They live on rocky shores, the 
more precipitous the better. They stand erect upon 
their feet and walk with ease. 
Notes.—A low croak. 
Nest.—They breed in large colonies on rocky cliffs, 
laying their single white eggs (2.50x 1.75) in erevices. 
Range.—Breeds from Matinicus Rock, Me., northward; 
winters south casually to Cape Cod. Large-billed Puffin 
(F. a. naumanni) is found in the Arctic Ocean. 
