THE FARALLONES 283 



nitely their greenish-black plumage, with its snowy-white 

 wing patches, and their coral-red feet ; so often do they open 

 their mouths to emit a high, squealing whistle, that its coral- 

 red lining constitutes a by no means unimportant part of 

 their make-up. 



But it is to the Tufted Puffin that the prize for originality 

 in costume must be awarded among Farallone birds. Par- 

 rot-like in appearance, he adds to the attractiveness of red 

 feet, a surprisingly large, bright red and yellow bill, and 

 from the side of each white cheek springs a streaming 

 plume of straw-colored feathers. 



Tufted Puffins 



The Puffin lives in burrows or holes under the rocks 

 where, if one would learn the strength of its singularly 

 shaped bill, one need only to inseri, one's hand ! 



Murres, Gulls, Cormorants, Guillemots, and Puffins, 

 form the diurnal sea-bird life of the Farallones. But 

 abundant as they are, one has only to go out of doors after 

 dark to believe that birds are as numerous by night as they 

 are by day. Then, Cassin's Auklet, Leach's and the Ashy 

 Petrel come from their retreats in holes, cracks, and 

 crevices in the rocks and similar places. The air is filled 

 with their weird and elfin cries. The first night on the 

 island, I was awakened by a startling scream, "Come here; 

 come here", apparently at my bedside ; but it proved to be 



