The Puffin (Fratercula Arctica). 



THIS curious bird, usually called Sea Parrot by 

 naturalists, is found in this vicinity all the year 

 round. Its usual companions, the Guillemots, also 

 accompany it on the Fames during breeding time. 



It may be said to take an exceedingly wide range during 

 the summer, for some of the species breed on the southern 

 coasts of France and Spain. On the Bass Rock, in Scot- 

 land, the holes in the ruins of the old fortifications afford 

 a retreat, burrows being also made in the shelving ground 

 in front of the building. On a small rocky island opposite 

 the harbour of North Berwick a large colony of these 

 birds used to resort. 



Various island and northern tribes in whose neighbour- 

 hood they breed have been known to use its flesh as an 

 article of diet, and the "Voyagers round the Coast of 

 Scotland and the Isles" have stated that their chief sus- 

 tenance consisted of the small sea-fowl (puffin). They 

 have been known to breed in large numbers in Labrador, 

 hence the previous statement that the bird takes a very 

 wide range for its haunts. 



Now as to plumage. Cheeks and throat pale grey, when 

 viewed from the side appearing as a round pale patch on 

 the side of the head ; the colour is darker at the sides of 

 the chin and immediately behind the eye, where the line 

 separating the auricular feathers from the others is 

 apparent ; eyes protected by a large scale above and below, 

 that above triangular, that below oblong; crown forming 

 a band to the occiput, collar round the throat, upper parts, 

 wings, and tail, black; on the crown and collar, tinted with 

 grey, under parts pure white. 



144 



