THE PUFFIN. 61 



seen by any one who will look for it in the room devoted to such 

 objects. 



The nest is composed wholly of fish-bones, minnows furnish- 

 ing the greater portion. These bones are ejected by the bird 

 when the flesh is digested, just as an owl ejects the pellets on 

 which her eggs are laid. The walls of the nest are about half 

 an inch in thickness, and its form is very flat. The circular 

 shape and slight hollow show that the bird really forms the mass 

 of bones into a nest, and does not merely lay her eggs at random 

 upon the ejector. The whole of these bones were deposited and 

 arranged in the short space of three weeks. 



It may possibly be owing to these bones and the partial de- 

 composition which must take place during the time occupied in 

 drying, that the burrow possesses so exceedingly evil an odour. 

 This unpleasant effluvium, which may indeed be called by the 

 stronger name of stench, is wonderfully enduring, and clings to 

 the bird as well as to its dwelling. The feathers of the King- 

 fisher are most lovely to the eye, but the proximity of the bird 

 is by no means agreeable to the nostrils, the " ancient and fish- 

 like smell " being extremely penetrating. I have now before me 

 a stuffed and perfectly dry skin of a Kingfisher, which has been 

 washed and soaked in water for many hours, and yet retains 

 the peculiar odour, which is so strong that after I had prepared it, 

 many and copious ablutions were required to divest my hands of 

 the horrible emanation. 



To those who collect eggs, and care for numbers, the discovery 

 of a Kingfisher's nest is a singular boon. Not only does the 

 bird lay a great multitude of eggs, the aggregate mass of which 

 exceeds her own dimensions, but she is a fearless and indefatig- 

 able layer, and if the eggs are removed with proper care, she will 

 produce an enormous number in the course of a season. 



The comical little Puffin {Fratercula- aretica) may be reckoned 

 among the true burrowers, possessing both the will and the power 

 of excavation, but exercising neither unless pressed by ne- 

 cessity. 



As is the custom with most diving birds, the Puf&n lays only 

 one egg, and always deposits it in some deep burrow. If possi- 

 ble, the bird takes advantage of a tunnel already excavated, such 

 as that of the rabbit, and " squats" upon another's territory, just 



