THE PUFFIN 47 



when it is neither graceful nor imposing are those when it is quitting 

 the land or about to return to it. Then the webbed feet hang down 

 straddle-wise, and, as they happen to be large and unshapely, and of 

 a bright orange hue that renders them conspicuous, the general effect 

 is inartistic, not to say grotesque. 



Puffins arrive on the waters near their breeding-haunts in March, 

 but do not busy themselves with their nest-holes till April. In the 

 meanwhile they appear to visit the rocks irregularly, or at least to be 

 present on the waters close to them, and disappear at night to sleep 

 on the open sea. But little is known of their habits at this period, 

 apart from the mere dates of their arrival. 



Nor is much known of their love-displays. As might be expected, 

 the neb plays an important part in the proceedings ; pairs may 

 frequently be seen billing, also shaking their heads, nibbling each 

 other's plumage, and making grave little bows. Occasionally the 

 head is bent right down to the feet. The bird then seems to be 

 peeping through his legs at the prospect behind, and presents a very 

 comical appearance. When the guillemot bows to the ground, he 

 appears, as already described, to be about to push an invisible egg 

 under his breast. The difference is due to the fact that the latter 

 species generally stands on the whole foot, 1 whereas the puffin, like 

 the generality of birds, stands on his toes. This, it is true, has been 

 disputed. The bird is said by Professor Patten to stand on the 

 toes only when alarmed, " the position generally depicted in ' photo- 

 graphs from nature.'" 2 I should have put it the other way about: 

 when alarmed and preparing to take flight the birds will naturally flex 

 the leg in order to spring off, and so have the appearance of resting 

 on the tarsus ; otherwise they stand upon the toes, as I have 

 frequently had occasion to observe from a distance, and through a 

 strong field-glass, when they were not in the least alarmed, as 

 evidenced by the fact that I noted individuals among them indulging 



1 See p. 27. 



2 Patten, Aquatic Birds, p. 499. See also for same error H. Saunders' Manual of British 

 Birds, 2nd ed., p. 708. 



