474 ALCADJ2. 



sometimes in crevices and fissures on the perpendicular sur- 

 face of the cliffs, at the depth of three or four feet from the 

 front. Rabbit warrens are not unfrequent on our coast, 

 and where this happens the Puffins often contend with the 

 rabbits for the possession of some of the burrows. Many 

 Puffins, Mr. Selby observes, " resort to the Fern Islands, 

 selecting such as are covered with a stratum of vegetable 

 mould ; and here they dig their own burrows, from there 

 not being any rabbits to dispossess upon the particular 

 islets they frequent. They commence this operation about 

 the first week in May, and the hole is generally excavated 

 to the depth of three feet, often in a curving direction, and 

 occasionally with two entrances. When engaged in dig- 

 ging, which is principally performed by the males, they 

 are sometimes so intent upon their work as to admit of 

 being taken by the hand, and the same may also be done 

 during incubation. At this period I have frequently ob- 

 tained specimens, by thrusting my arm into the burrow, 

 though at the risk of receiving a severe bite from the 

 powerful and sharp-edged bill of the old bird. At the 

 further end of this hole the single egg is deposited, which 

 in size nearly equals that of a Pullet. The length is two 

 inches three lines, by one inch and seven lines in breadth. 

 Its colour when first laid is white, sometimes spotted with 

 pale cinereous, but it soon becomes soiled and dirty from 

 its immediate contact with the earth, no materials being 

 collected for a nest at the end of the burrow. The young 

 are hatched after a month's incubation, and are then 

 covered with a long blackish down above, which gradually 

 gives place to the feathered plumage, so that, at the end 

 of a month or five weeks, they are able to quit the burrow, 

 and follow their parents to the open sea. Soon after this 

 time, or about the second week in August, the whole 

 leave our coasts." Pennant mentions that when the time 



