A Trip to the Farallones, 



eeie. The young are reared in crannies 

 of the rock. 



One of the most interesting birds 

 which nests upon the Farallones is the 

 tufted puffin, or sea parrot, as it is called. 

 As one flies by we wonder how the 

 little body can sustain that heavy head. 

 Its enormous bill of brilliant vermilion, 

 compressed sideways, presents a profile 

 of grotesque dimensions. The general 

 hue of the bird is blackish, with large^ 

 conspicuous cheek -patches of pure 

 white, and plumes of pale yellow stream- 

 ing from the sides of the head. It is a 

 comparatively solitary bird, but nests 

 very commonly in narrow caves or 

 crannies of the rock, where it lays one 

 large egg of a dirty whitish color. 

 The sea parrots stand upright, after the 

 fashion of the guillemots, and like them 

 frequently rest the entire foot upon the 

 ground. Their note may be described 

 as a shrill, piping whistle. 



In the same steep, rocky hillside, com- 

 posed of coarse shale, where the puffins 



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