NATURAL HISTORY. 



Family III. . . Alcidae. 

 Sub-family a. Alcina. 



FRATERCULA. (Lat. ) 



Arctica (Lat. Arctic), the Puffin. 



The PUFFIN is common at the Needles and the western 

 islands of England. It forms deep burrows in the soil, in 

 which one egg is deposited, or usurps the burrow of a rabbit. 

 The hole is generally from three to four feet in depth, when 

 the Puffin is forced to labour for itself; it usually takes a 

 winding course ; and the inhabitant is secured from surprise 

 by forming two entrances, in order that if one entrance is at- 

 tacked, it may escape by the other. The egg is always depos- 

 ited at the furthest extremity of the hole, and is not easy to be 

 obtained, on account of the vigorous resistance made by the 

 parent bird. It is an excellent diver, plunging fearlessly from 

 a lofty cliff into the sea, and speedily returning with its beak 

 full of fish, which are secured by their heads, and lie in a row 

 along the bill of the Puffin, forming a kind of piscatorial fringe. 

 Its enormous and sharp-edged bill renders it a .formidable 

 antagonist to intruders. The length of the bird is thirteen 



