ALCID.E — THE AUKS — FRATEUCULA. 



525 



the above, but the ba'«il shiuMs of the liill wantin),', nnd replaced by a soft skin of a browiiisli- 

 black coh)r, the horny appeiKhi^'is to the eyelids waiitiiij,', the rictal "rosette" imich reduced 

 ill size, of a dull purplish red color ; nides cjf head darker {,'i'"y» ^^^ l'"''d and orbital reyions 

 quite blackish. 



Total len},'th, about 11. T.") inches; e.xtent, 23.00; win},', O.OO-G.SO ; culinen, l.(!0-l.!K) ; K""iy«i 

 l.-lO-l.rjO; depth of nia.xilla at ba.se, .75-.!)0 ; of mandible, .JO-.SO; tarsus, 1.00-1. 10 ; middle toe, 

 without claw, 1.25-1.40. 



We are unalile to npi)reciate Kutlicienlly decided or constant dilferences between specimens of 

 correspond ill},' se.\, w^o, and season from Lal)rador, Southern (ireenland, Norway, ami tlie Orkneys. 

 E.xamples from the Farijes appear to have slenderer bills, and those from the coast of France smaller 

 bills, than any others in the collection examined ; but these appareut dilferences may not prove 

 constant in a larger series. 



The "Sea Parrot," the "Puffin," or " Coultcrnet," as thi.s bird i.s called in various 

 localities, is an oceanic bird, found exclusively in the water.s of the Atlantic, and 

 breeding on the eastern coast of North America i'roui Eastern Maine to Greenland, 

 and in Europe from Great Britain to the North Cape. A few of this species breed 

 in the islands off the coast of Portugal, and it also extends its movements into the 

 Arctic Sea north of Europe. 



According to lleinhardt it is a resident species of Greenland. It also visits the 

 Fariie Islands, Iceland, and Nova Zembla, and ether northern regions. According to 

 the observations of Mr. Howard Saunders, this species, though not abundant, is found 

 not uncommon on the east coast of Spain. It was also found by the fishermen 

 on the Island of Dragonena — where, however, it docs not breed. jMr. Saunders was 

 informed that it is abundant, occurring in flocks, off the coast of ^lorocco, near 

 Mogador. The most southern breeding-place of this bird v.ith which Mr. Saunders 

 is acquainted is at the Berlengas, or Faralloncs, a group of rocks in the Atlantic, a 

 little north of the latitude of Lisbon. The Puffin in the winter also visits the shores 

 of Holland and France. A single specimen was taken at Genoa in the winter of 

 1823 ; and jM. Savi includes it in his " History of the Birds of Italy." Accidental 

 specimens wander occasionally to Sicily and to Malta ; in the latter place Schembri 

 obtained a single specimen in 1832 (" Ibis, 18G4). 



In Great Britain, according to Yarrell, it is only a summer visitor, appearing early 

 in April, and departing about the last of August. There it breeds in the crevices 

 of high rocks or cliffs on the sea-coast, or in the short turf on the table-lands above. 

 Early in May it deposits its single large egg, sometimes in the fissures on the perpen- 

 dicular surface of the cliffs, to the depth of three or four feet from the front; 

 sometimes in rabbit-warrens, which are common on that coast; and sometimes, 

 selecting islands that are covered Avith a stratum of vegetable mould, the birds dig 

 their own burrows. This hole is generally excavated to the depth of three feet, 

 often in a curving direction, and occasionally has two entrances. The digging is 

 principally performed by the male ; and he is at times so intent upon his work as 

 to suffer himself to be taken by the hand. This happens also with the female when 

 incubating. They can be handled, however, only at the risk of receiving a severe 

 bite from their sharp and powerful bill. The egg is laid at the farthest end of the 

 burrow. It is 2.75 inches long and 1.G3 broad, pure white when deposited, sometimes 

 spotted with pale cinereous, and often becoming soiled and dirty from contact 

 with the earth, as no materials are ever collected for the nest. The young are 

 hatched after a month's incubation; these are covered at first with a long blackish 

 down, which is soon replaced by their feather-plumage ; and at the end of a month 

 or five weeks they are able to quit their burrow and follow their parents to the open 



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