WATER FOWL. 401 



rabbits, and, it is not unlikely, destroys their 

 young. It is in these unjustly acquired retreats 

 that the young puffins are found in great num- 

 bers, and become a very valuable acquisition to 

 the natives of the place. The old ones (I am 

 now speaking of the Manks puffin) early in the 

 morning, at break of day, leave their nests and 

 young, and even the island, nor do they return 

 till night-fall. All this time they are diligently 

 employed in fishing for their young ; so that their 

 retreats on land, which in the morning were loud 

 and clamorous, are now still and quiet, with not 

 a wing stirring till the approach of dusk, when 

 their screams once more announce their return. 

 Whatever fish, or other food, they have procured 

 in the day, by night begins to suffer a kind of 

 half digestion, and is reduced to an oily matter, 

 which is ejected from the stomach of the old ones 

 into the mouth of the young. By this they are 

 nourished, and become fat to an amazing degree. 

 When they are arrived to their full growth, they 

 who are intrusted by the lord of the island, draw 

 them from their holes ; and, that they may more 

 readily keep an account of the number they take, 

 cut off one foot as a token. Their flesh is said to 

 be excessively rank, as they feed upon fish, espe- 

 cially sprats, and sea-weed ; however, when they 

 are pickled and preserved with spices, they are 

 admired by those who are fond of high eating. 

 We are told, that formerly their flesh was allowed 

 by the church on Lenten days. They were, at 

 that time, also taken by ferrets, as we do rabbits. 

 At present, they are either dug out, or drawn 

 VOL. iv. c c 



