THE PUFFIN. 37 



a stuffed and perfectly dry skin of a Kingfisher, which has been 

 washed and soaked in water for many hours, and yet retains 

 che pecuhar odour, which is so strong that after I had prepared 

 it, many and copious ablutions were required to divest my hands 

 of the horrible emanation. 



To those who collect eggs, and care for numbers, the discovery 

 of a Kingfisher's nest is a singular boon. Not only does the 

 bird lay a great multitude of eggs, the aggregate mass of which 

 exceeds her own dimensions, but she is a fearless and indefati- 

 gable layer, and if the eggs are removed with proper care, she 

 will produce an enormous number in the course of a season. 



The comical little Puffin {Fratercula arcHca) may be 

 reckoned among the true burrowers, possessing both the will 

 and the power of excavation, but exercising neither unless 

 pressed by necessity. 



As is the custom with most diving birds, the Puffin lays only 

 one egg, and always deposits it in some deep burrow. If pos- 

 sible, the bird takes advantage of a tunnel already excavated, 

 such as that of the rabbit, and ' squats ' upon another's territory, 

 just as the Coquimbo owl takes possession of the excavations 

 made by the prairie dog. The rabbit does not allow its domi- 

 nion to be usurped without remonstrance, and accordingly the 

 bird and the beast engage in fierce conflict before the matter is 

 settled. Almost invariably the Puffin wins the day, its powerful 

 beak and determined courage being more than a match for the 

 superior size of its antagonist. 



When it is unable to obtain a ready-made habitation, it sets to 

 work on its own account, and excavates tunnels of considerable 

 dimensions. 



The Feroe Islands are notable haunts of the Puffin, because 

 the soil, which is in many places soft and easily worked, is 

 favourable for its excavations. The male is the principal exca- 

 vator, though he is assisted by the female ; and so intent is the 

 ])ird upon its work, that it may be captured by hand by thrust- 

 ing the arm into the burrow. The average length of the tunnel 

 is about three feet, and it is seldom straight, taking a more or 



