go2 THE TUFTED PUFFIN. 
wing 7.75 (1900.9); tail 2.75 (69.9); tarsus 1.30 (33); bill (chord of culmen) 
2.40 (O61), greatest depth of bill 1.90 (48.3). 
Recognition Marks.—Appearing Crow size by reason of relatively short 
tail; black plumage with white face and tufts and large vermilion bill unmistak- 
able in breeding plumage; size and compressed shape of bill still distinctive in 
winter, 
Nesting.—/yg: single, white, usually marked obscurely with pale brown and 
purplish; of variable shape, sometimes nearly equal-ended, sometimes pointed at 
one end something like a Murre’s; laid at end of burrow in earth-bank or, more 
rarely, in crevice of rock, or in shelter of brush. Season: June; one chick. 
General Range.—Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, breeding on the 
\merican side from the Farallones north to Kotzebue Sound; south on the 
\siatic side to Japan 
Range in Washington.—Preeding sparingly on some of the smaller islands 
of the San Juan group, abundantly on the Olympiades, notably Alexander Islet 
and Carroll Islet; seldom ventures upon Puget Sound south of Port Townsend. 
Authorities.—Mormon cirrhata ( Pall.), Cassin, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 
1858, p. go2. C&S. L'. Rh. E. 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) P. Prov. C. BN. E 
IN spite of the pleasant tale of Halcyon, the Kingfisher, no bird has yet 
perfected an arrangement for nesting upon the high seas. Our maritime 
friends are, therefore, obliged to appear ashore and give account of themselves 
at least once a year. Fortunately, they are most presentable at this season, 
and so interesting that we may well afford to overlook their long absence 
during the dull season 
Puffins, in common with other species of the Alcid@, spend the winter 
upon the ocean and are only seen near land when the buffeting of some storm 
of unusual severity strews the sand with carcasses of dead 
and wounded. As spring advances, these birds are provided 
with an extraordinary array of nuptial 
ornaments and appendages. Males and 
females alike receive, in place of dull 
black feathers, a white facial mask: and 
this is prolonged behind 
from either side into long 
waving feather “horns” 
f a rich, deep straw 
color. The evelid becomes 
a brilliant red: and the 
at red beak, always 
tout and strongly com 
pressed, is further aug 
a ee lel Plate by Tend Seas mented basally by a new 
\ QUAINT FOW! set of horny plates of a 
