THE PENGUIN THE PUFFIN. 327 



to be sure that it is not a fish leaping for sport." The pen- 

 guin is a courageous bird, and will not hesitate to attack a 

 man. Mr. Darwin when on the Falkland Islands, placed 

 himself between one of the Patagonian penguins and the 

 water, and till it reached the sea, it regularly fought and 

 drove him backwards. It stood close before him, erect and 

 determined, and every inch gained it firmly kept. Nothing 

 less than heavy blows would have stopped it. 



The Puffin. The Puffin is a bird of singular appearance 

 and interesting habits. It is sometimes called the sea parrot 

 from the resemblance of its head to that of the Parrot 

 kind. The bird measures thirteen inches in length, and its 

 bill is a formidable weapon. The Raven seems to be its 

 natural enemy, and when they come to close quarters a 

 great deal depends upon which succeeds in getting the first 

 grip. Naturally each bird has the best chance in its own 

 element. It is a bird of passage, visiting its customary 

 breeding places in the summer and wintering in southern 

 Europe. Mr. Rennie says, " In the breeding season, numer- 

 ous troops of them visit several places on our coasts, 

 particularly the small island of Priestholm, near Anglesey, 

 which might well be called puffin land, as the whole surface 

 appears literally covered with them. Soon after their arrival 

 in May, they prepare for breeding, and it is said, the male, 

 contrary to the usual economy of birds, undertakes the hardest 

 part of the labour. He begins by scraping up a hole 

 in the sand not far from the shore; and after having got 

 some depth he throws himself on his back, and with his 

 powerful bill as a digger and his broad feet to remove 

 the rubbish, he excavates a burrow with several windings 

 and turnings, from eight to ten feet deep. He prefers, 

 where he can find a stone, to dig under it, in order that 

 his retreat may be more securely fortified. Whilst thus 

 employed, the birds are so intent upon their work that they 

 are easily caught by the hand." 



