The Tufted Puffin 271 



American side, it breeds as far south as the Santa Barbara Islands, California, 

 and as far north as Cape Lisburne, in northwest Alaska. It is, however, of 

 comparatively rare occurrence in Arctic waters. On the Asiatic side, its breed- 

 ing range extends as far south as Japan ; while its center of abundance is gener- 

 ally conceded to be the Aleutian Islands. Deposition of eggs occurs as early 

 as May 1 in southern California, and as late as August 1 in northern latitudes; 

 but fresh eggs may also be found somewhere from June 1 to June 20 at any 

 given point in its breeding range. Thus, on certain islets off the west coast of 

 Washington, I have found the Puffins punctual to a day, and deposition 

 occurring with practical uniformity; whereas, on the Farallones, 191 1, there 

 was a steady increase in numbers from the 1st to the 28th of May, with a few 

 still to be heard from on June 3. The winter range of this species comprises 

 the open ocean, and the birds are occasionally driven shoreward along the 

 Aleutian chain and the coasts of approximate latitudes. 



From time immemorial, the natives of the North Pacific islands have 

 placed large dependence upon the Puffins, Tufted and Horned, to supply 

 both food and clothing. Advantage is taken of the bird's inability to alter 

 quickly its course of flight — your Puffin is no dodger — and large numbers 

 are caught annually by means of small nets mounted on poles, — a sort of 

 glorified butterfly hunt. The Puffin meat is not distasteful, as sea-birds go, 

 although white men do not care for it. More important to the native Aleutian 

 is the uniform tough skin, which goes into the making of parkas, the famed 

 feather-coats of the North. These garments, each requiring the use of from 

 forty-five to fifty Puffin skins, are made up feather-side in, and are nearly 

 impervious to cold. 



With the natives we shall, of course, have to be very patient until such 

 times as the channels of distribution have been perfected, so that they may 

 have Gloucester codfish, Yakima potatoes, and Ventura beans for food, instead 

 of the flesh of "Toporki" (the Commander Island name for Puffin), and gar- 

 ments made of good Irish wool, instead of flimsy bird-skins. With the fisher- 

 men (imported) we shall have to be very firm, reminding them that Uncle 

 Sam is willing to subscribe liberally for fish spawn, to fill the ocean if need be, 

 so that there may be indeed food for all, birds and humans; but very unwilling 

 to see his guests assault the ancient rights of his feathered wards. 



For ourselves, we need no economic excuse to cloak our interest in these 

 quaint old-men-of-the-sea, the Tufted Puffins. Remote, unobtrusive though 

 they be, they belong to us to study, to protect (as need arises), to enjoy. A 

 visit paid to one of their breeding haunts is like a trip to fairyland, a real and 

 tangible bit of romance. Such a privilege, properly exercised, is the inherent 

 right of every American citizen, and should be safeguarded to our children 

 for all time. The maintenance in full measure of these and other sea-fowl 

 is so obvious an esthetic advantage to the race that no taint of commercialism 

 ought to enter in, at an)' point, upon our consideration of them. 



