108 PUFFIN. 



in their mouths ; the larger picked up the fish that were dropped before 

 them ; but almost all of them seemed to crawl to the entrance of the holes 

 for the purpose of being fed. In all the burrows that communicated with 

 others, a round place was scooped out on one side of the avenue, in the 

 form of an oven ; while in those which were single, this oven-like place 

 was found at the end, and was larger than the corridor. All the passages 

 were flattish above, and rounded beneath, as well as on the sides. In 

 many instances we found two birds sitting each on its egg in the same 

 hole. 



The Puffin never lays more than one egg, unless the first may have 

 been destroyed or taken away ; nor does it raise more than a single young 

 one in the season. The time of incubation is probably from twenty-five to 

 twenty-eight days, although I have not been able to ascertain the precise 

 period. Both birds work in digging the hole, using their bills and feet ; 

 they also sit alternately on their egg, although the female engages more 

 industriously in this occupation, while the male labours harder at the 

 burrow. The egg is pure white when first deposited, but soon becomes 

 soiled by the earth, as no nest is formed for its reception. It generally 

 measures two and a half inches by one and three-fourths, but varies in 

 size according to the age of the bird, as well as in shape, some being con- 

 siderably more rovmded at the smaller end than others. When boiled, the 

 white is of a livid-blue colour. The captain and myself were the only 

 persons of our party who tried to eat some. The eggs are certainly very 

 bad, and are never collected by " The Eggers." The flesh of the birds 

 is very dark, tough, and so fishy, as to be eatable only in cases of great 

 want. Two Italians who had come to Labrador to purchase cod-fish, and 

 were short of provisions, fed upon Puffins daily, to the great amusement 

 of our party. The fishermen at times, when bait is scarce along the coast, 

 destroy a great number of these birds, which they skin like rabbits, and 

 then cut the flesh into slices. 



The flight of the Puffin is firm, generally direct, now and then pretty 

 well sustained. It is able to rise at once from the water or the land, al- 

 though at times it runs on both before taking to wing. This depends 

 much on necessity, for if pushed it flies at once from the ground, or 

 plunges under the surface of the water. There they swim, with the wings 

 partially opened, at a small depth, passing along in the manner of Divers ; 

 and by this means they catch their prey ; but at other times they dive to 

 the bottom, many fathoms deep, for shell-fish and other objects. 



