12 THE AUKS 



be found in natural crevices or under stones. Sometimes the single egg is laid on 

 the bare earth, but there is generally some loose grass and a feather or two. Ac- 

 cording to Naumann, both sexes share in building. In very crowded colonies eggs 

 have been found lying exposed on the bare rock. (PI. XLI.) In colour most eggs 

 are a dull dirty white, rough, and quite without gloss, faintly blotched, spotted or 

 zoned with some shade of pale brown or violet, while eggs with darker and more 

 decided brown markings have been known to occur occasionally. The eggs after 

 incubation are often deeply stained by the peaty soil. (PI. F.) Average size 

 of 30 eggs, 2-39 x 1-67 in. [60-8 x 42-5 mm.]. The puffin returns to its breeding 

 haunts with great regularity, and begins to nest early in May, laying in the second 

 or third week of that month. If the first egg is taken, another is laid about fourteen 

 days afterwards, but apparently not a third time. Incubation is performed by 

 both sexes, and lasts, according to Messrs. F. G. Paynter and W. Evans, for 36 

 days. Only one brood is normally reared in the season. [F. c. E. J.] 



5. Food. Chiefly fish and crustaceans. The young are fed by both 

 parents on small fish. [F. B. K.] 



The following is described in the supplementary chapter on " Rare Birds " : 1 



Briinnich's guillemot, Uria lomvia (Linnseus), [Uria bruennichi 

 (E. Sabine)]. 



1 The great-auk should more properly be placed under this head, but the interest attaching 

 to the species justifies the more complete treatment it receives by including it in the main body 

 of the book. 



