THE PUFFIN. 233 



Youghal, after a severe storm ; — none of them exhibited any 

 wounds. On this subject it is remarked by Wilkighbyj — " If 

 that season happen to be stormy and tempestuous, and the sea 

 troubled, there are abundance of them found cast upon the 

 shores, lean and perished with famine. For they cannot, unless 

 the sea -be calm, either proceed in their journey, or fish for their 

 living" (p. 326). Mr. Poole observes, that '^puffins breed at 

 the Saltees, off the Wexford coast, but bear no proportion for 

 numbers to the kittiwakes and razorbills. They are very vicious 

 when taken alive, and can deal a most excruciating pinch with 

 their bills. About the middle of May they appeared to be in 

 greater numbers than at a later period." 



Rutty, in his 'Natural History of Dublin,^ states, that the 

 " puffin is found at Lambay, and is a bird of passage appearing 

 in April and May, and going in Jidy or August." It breeds at 

 the present time (1850) on this island, but from increasing per- 

 secution the numbers have been much lessened of late years. 

 On Bii'd Island (opposite Kirkcubbin) in Strangford Lough, con- 

 taining little more than a rood of ground, and a very dry gravelly 

 spot covered with herbage, a puffings nest was found in the 

 middle of July 1843. The eggs, two in number, were deposited 

 in a hole about a foot from the surface. The bird itself was fre- 

 quently seen on the nest and flying from it, but the one indivi- 

 dual only was ever observed.^ This solitary nest is a remarkable 

 instance, the puffin being gregarious in the breeding season, and 

 no haunt being nearer than about thirty-five miles. The species 

 was never known to nidify here before, an inquiry which I was 

 particular in making, lest this nest might be the last of a 

 colony that had gradually died out there, or had changed to 

 more favourable quarters. Such a site being chosen for the 

 nest is not unprecedented. Dr. M'Culloch, in his description of 

 the Flannan Isles, remarks : — " Various sea-fowl, of the species 

 usually found in these seas, have here established their colo- 

 nies; but the most numerous is the puffin. These literally 



* Mr'. Francis Rankiu. 



