PUFFIN. 125 



company with the Razor-bill, Herring Gull, Kittiwake, 

 and Guillemot, but in separate ranks. Mr. Selby adds 

 that when engaged in digging, which operation is 

 generally performed by the males, they are sometimes 

 so intent upon their work as to allow themselves to be 

 taken by the hand; and the same may also be done 

 when the bird is sitting on its egg. The young are 

 hatched after a month's incubation. In about a like 

 period of time they come to their full feathers, and 

 are able to quit their native burrows, and enter on 

 their ocean of life. Meyer says that where both birds 

 have been killed, others have been known to take 

 charge of the egg or young. 



Only one egg is laid, and its colour is white, 

 sometimes spotted with pale grey. 



