: THE SEA-ELIERS. 217 



LEACH'S STORM PETREL. 



Leach's Storm Petrel (Oceanodromus Leachii) differs from the previous species in having its 

 tail deeply forked ; it is, moreover, of much larger size, it length being eight inches, and breadth 

 nineteen inches ; the wing measures six inches and three-quarters, and tail three inches and a half. 

 The plumage is of a blackish brown on the head ;- the rump is white ; and the ends of the wing- 

 covers fawn-colour. This species also occupies the Atlantic Ocean, and precisely resembles the 

 Common Petrel in its habits, manners, nidification, and food. 



The PUFFINS (Puffini) are recognisable by their slender bodies, proportionately short wings, 

 and more or less rounded tail, composed of twelve feathers. The beak is short, or of moderate 

 length, and the nostrils divided. The legs are large, broad-footed, and placed very far backwards. 

 The plumage is smooth and oily. The Puffins are eminently aquatic birds, only visiting the land for 

 the purpose of hatching and rearing their young ; nevertheless they often approach the shore or visit 

 harbours on the coast. They are generally met with in little flocks consisting of from eight to twenty 

 individuals, and employed in fishing for food. During the breeding season, however, they assemble 

 in such vast numbers as almost to cover the rocks on which they build. Their food consists 

 principally of fishes and molluscous animals, which are invariably caught by diving. The Puffins are 

 distinguishable from all their allies by the impetuosity of their flight. Sometimes they may be seen 

 swimming quietly upon the water and diving into the advancing waves ; generally, however, they are 

 observed flying, and not only shooting over but dashing through them. With outstretched wings 

 they plunge into the billows, urging their career with rapid strokes, twisting and turning in the water, 

 not only sideways but completely round, so that sometimes the dark-coloured back, sometimes the 

 shining white under surface becomes visible ; now they seem to follow the outline of the wave, 

 climbing upon one side of it and plunging down the other as they suddenly emerge from the water, 

 and, after rising ten or twelve feet into the air, once more plunge obliquely into the sea, where they 

 again dive, rowing themselves along with feet and wings till, after making their way to a considerable 

 distance, they come up into the air, apparently simply to take breath, and forthwith disappear in 

 the same manner. The interest attaching to this spectacle is considerably increased from the 

 circumstance of so many of the birds joining in these active evolutions, just as one plunges beneath 

 the surface another emerges, and as they are all busily employed, it is difficult for the eye to follow 

 their rapid evolutions. 



Although the Puffins do not congregate around their breeding-places in such vast multitudes as 

 other water-fowl, they regularly visit St. Kilda and other places among the Hebrides and Faroe 

 Islands in very considerable numbers, generally arriving in the night, during which they appear to 

 be even more active than in the daytime. 



Like many other Divers, they dig, by means of their beak and claws, holes in the greensward 

 with which their breeding-place is generally covered to the depth of two feet or even more ; their 

 excavations having more the appearance of rabbit-holes than of nesting-places for a bird ; at the 

 bottom they are slightly wider than elsewhere, and here they lay their eggs, without making any nest. 

 Occasionally, however, they collect a few stalks of grass together, upon which their eggs are deposited. 

 Not unfrequently they merely take possession of the holes prepared in preceding years. Their 

 nesting-place being completed, each female lays a solitary egg, which is of large size. Upon this 

 egg the male and female sit by turns for a very long period ; how long has not yet been ascertained, 

 but it extends over several weeks ; if disturbed during their confinement, the parents become 

 much excited, and defend their nests vigorously, uttering cries which have been compared to the 

 vol. iv. — 146 



