THE PUFFIN. 



743 



America has two eggs, both in Pliiladelphia ; France has three birds and six eggs ; 

 Germany and Prussia have six birds and six eggs ; Austria has two birds ; Switzerland 

 one bird, and Italy three birds ; Russia one bu'd ; Denmark two birds and two eggs, and 

 Holland two of each. It is worthy of notice, that in England two birds and one egg are 

 changing hands, and in Germany the same may be said of one bird and two eggs. 



The eggs are variable in size, and colour, and markings, some being of a silvery white 

 and others of a yellowish white ground ; and the spots and streaks are greatly different 

 in colour and form, some being yellowish brown and purple, others purple and black, and 

 others intense blue and green. 

 The dimensions and weight of 

 Mr. Champley's eggs are as fol- 

 lows : — First egg, five inches long, 

 two inches ten and a half lines 

 wide, weight thirty-one scruples 

 ten grains ; second egg, four inches 

 ten and a half lines long, two 

 inches eleven and a half lines 

 wide, weight forty-one scruples 

 nine grains ; third egg, four inches 

 seven lines long, three inches one 

 line wide, weight forty scruples 

 nine grains ; fourth egg, five inches 

 one line long, three inches wide, 

 weight thirty-eight scruples fif- 

 teen grains. 



The upper surface of this bird 

 is black, except a patch of pure 

 white round and in front of the 

 eye, and the ends of the secon- 

 daries, which are white. The 

 whole of the under surface is 

 white, and in winter the chin and 

 throat are also white. Tlie young 

 are mottled with black and white. 

 The total length of the bird is 

 thirty-two inches. 



Another species of the same 

 genus, the Razor- Bill (Alca 

 torda), is tolerably common in the 

 Arctic seas, and is occasionally 

 found in Great Britain. A young 

 bird was obtained from a rock in 

 the Isle of Wight. The eggs of 

 this species are singularly variable. 

 Mr. Champley informs me that 

 he possesses five hundred distinct 

 specimens. 



PUFFIN. — Fratermla drctica. 



The odd little Puffin, so 

 common on our coasts, is remarkable for the singular shape, enormous size, and light 

 colours of its beak, which reaUy looks as if it had been originally made for some 

 much larger bird. Owing to the dimensions of the beak it is often called the Sea- 

 Parrot, or the COULTERNEB. 



The Puffin can fly rapidly and walk tolerably, but it dives and swims supremely well, 

 chasiug fish in the water, and often bringing out a whole row of sprats at a time ranged 



