158 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs 



white spot over the eye, and the scapulars edged with white, forming several 

 distinct streaks; secondaries tipped with white; breast and under parts white; 

 sides of the body, under the wings and flanks marked with black ; under wing- 

 coverts sooty grey, in some cases marked with white ; legs and feet black. 

 Total length 8*5 inches, wing 4'6. The sexes are similar. 



In winter the chin, throat and neck in front become white, but there is almost 

 always a dusky band apparent across the front of the neck, the bases of the 

 feathers being dusky grey. A space below the eye remains black, and the ear- 

 coverts are dusky, but the white extends on to the sides of the head, and in some 

 cases meets in a narrow broken line across the nape. Front of the tarsus and 

 upper surface of the toes brownish, webs and outer surface dusky. Young in the 

 first winter have the front of the legs and toes dingy flesh colour, darker upon 

 the joints (Saxby). 



The young in down is dark sooty-brown. In its progress to the plumage of 

 its first winter it appears to resemble the Razorbill. 



An albino is in the British Museum. 



Family— AL CIDAI. 



The Puffin. 



Fratercula ardica, (Linn). 



THE Puffin resorts in great numbers to various parts of our coasts in the 

 breeding season. It is abundant in the Shetland and Orkney Islands, as 

 well as in the Hebrides, where myriads breed on St. Kilda and the Shiant Isles 

 and immense numbers at the Ascribs, Skye. In other parts of Scotland it is 

 abundant, and Ailsa Craig and the Bass Rock have been especially referred to as 

 breeding stations. On the east coast of England it breeds only on the cliffs at 



