92 THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 



are thrown so far back that it stands almost upright, it has 

 more the air of a small kangaroo than of a bird. They 

 have this character in common with all the true diving 

 ducks. 



In the breeding season, numerous troops of them visit 

 several places on our coast, particularly the small island 

 of Priestholm, near Anglesey, which might well be called 

 puffin-land, as the whole surface appears literally covered 

 with them. Soon after their arrival in May they prepare 

 for breeding, and it is said the male, contrary to the usual 

 economy of birds, undertakes the hardest part of the labour. 

 He begins by scraping up a hole in the sand not far from 

 the shore, and, after having got to some depth, he throws 

 himself on his back, and, with his powerful bill as a 

 digger and his broad feet to remove the rubbish, he ex- 

 cavates a burrow with several windings and turnings from 

 ight to ten feet deep. He prefers, when he can find a 

 stone, to dig under it, in order that his retreat may be 

 more securely fortified. Whilst thus employed, the birds 

 are so intent upon their work that they are easily caught 

 by the hand. 



This bird, like others which burrow in similar localities, 

 is accused of dispossessing the rabbits, and even of killing 

 and devouring their young. But it would require more 

 authentic testimony than the majority of naturalists have 

 met with to convince one of this alleged robbery, the only 

 apparent evidence being that they are found burrowing 

 along with rabbits in similar holes. We very commonly 

 find, in the same sandbank, numerous perforations 

 crowded into a small space, the work of various species of 

 solitary bees, side by side and intermingled with those of 

 Sand-wasps (Sphecidtv) ; but no naturalist who has 

 accurately observed the proceedings of these insects would 

 conclude that they were mutual robbers, merely because 

 he observed them going in and out of contiguous holes. 



In some instances it is certain that the puffin must form 

 its own burrows. 



