ALCID^. 431 



One was picked up dead in Torquay Harbour in IS.'ifi (Von H., Zool. 1874, p. 3908), 

 and another caught by two fishermen in Torbay in 1875 is in the Torquay iMuseum. 



Turton and Kingston mention one that was sliot in the neighbuurliood of Teign- 

 mouth. 



A Little Auk was found dead on tbe cricket-field at Exraoutli in January 1890 

 after violent westerly gales. 



An immature bird was found dead on the sands at Barnstaple in August 1859. 

 Tbree were picked up dead on tlie banks of the Taw, between Barnstaple and Instow, 

 at the beginning of September 1868 (G. F. M., Zool. 1858, p. 14t)U). One from North 

 Devon, December 7th, 1869 (C. S.), and another was caught on tlie Taw near 

 Barnstaple about December 22nd, 1875 (M. A. jM., Zool. 1876, p. 4814). 



Other specimens liave occurred in the county besides those mentioned above, but 

 the dates were not recorded. Curiously enough, the Little Auk was obtained in three 

 years on the same day, viz. 19th December (1850, 1867, and 1869), at Plymouth. 



Respecting its appearance in Cornwall Mr. Eodd writes : " Durino: the 

 winter months this small sea-bird comes to us from the north in little 

 parties of ten or a dozen, which soon get broken np and dispersed, 

 and single individuals find, their way into our harbours and estuaries." 

 Mr. Man,sel-PleTdell states that it is not rare as a winter visitor on the 

 Dorset coast, being chiefly picked up after heavy gales. Mr. Cecil Smith 

 mentions two which had come beneath his notice — one caught alive near 

 Taunton, and another picked up dead on the shore at Burnham ; and there 

 are other instances of its occurrence in Somerset. 



PuiE.ll. Frafercula arctica (Linn.). 



[Sea Parrot, Lundy Parrot, Coulter-neb, Xath, Pope : Dcv.'] 



Resident, being found on some parts of our coasts at all times of the 

 year. It is scarce on the south, but very abundant on the north coast in 

 summer. Great numbers breed in burrows on the slopes of Lundy Island, 

 arriving there early in May. This island derives its name from the 

 Scandinavian lunde, a puffin, and eij, an island (H. Saunders, Yarrell's 

 H. Birds, 4th ed. iv. p. 91). On the south coast adults occur occasionally 

 in summer, as well as in winter, but tlioy are most numerous in February, 

 when examples are sometimes picked up dead on the shore. Young 

 birds have also been obtained several times in summer on the south coast. 



Unless one actually visits Lundy and Skomer Islands in the mouths 

 of May and June it is impossible to form any conception of the in- 

 credible uumber of Puffins which annually frequent them at that season. 

 At some places in both those great nesting-stations of clitf-birds it 

 w(juld seem at that time as if there would not be room for another 

 Puffin. The water beneath the cliffs, almost as far from land as the eye 

 can reach, is black with a multitude of the birds ; little Hocks and siiiglo 

 birds are flying to and fro, some of them as they come towards the land 

 having bunches of small lish depending like ribbons from the edges of 

 their mandibles, being on their way to feed their young. Row upon row 

 they are Heat(!d njion the rocks and upon the edges of the clifl's ; fresh 

 ones are continually arriving, us one after another from the lino becomes 

 restless and flies ofl' towards the sea. Uesides the countless numbers 



