PUFFIN. 407 



Northumberland, Priestholm Isle, near Anglesea, the small 

 islands off St. David's in Wales, the Isle of Wight, the cliffs of 

 Beachy Head, Dover, Scarborough, and in the vicinity of Holy- 

 head. These birds were also found by Audubon on the sterile 

 and dreary coast of Labrador, but not beyond Brador ; they 

 also t)robably inhabit the coasts of Newfoundland, and in the 

 winter are seen in great numbers in the Bay of Fundy. They 

 are little more than stragglers on the coast of New England, but 

 according to Catesby proceed in the course of the season as 

 far south as Carolina. In Europe they are also seen on the 

 coasts of Andalusia in Spain. 



In England, at Priestholm Isle, they are seen in flocks innu- 

 merable. They assemble and begin to visit the island early in 

 April, but do not commence their incubation until the first 

 week in May. ' They make no proper 'nest, but burrow deep 

 holes in the loose earth, in the labor of which both male and 

 female unite, forming excavations three or four feet in depth. 

 As this labor is very considerable, they sometimes content them- 

 selves with the deserted burrow of the rabbit, and probably at 

 times dislodge the owners for this coveted convenience. They 

 lay a single whitish-colored egg on the bare mould of their 

 den. The young are hatched by the beginning of July, and are 

 attentively fed by the assiduous parents, who are now seen 

 busily engaged fishing for them, and bringing their prey in the 

 bill, until they are so far grown as to feed and defend them- 

 selves. About the close of August they all go off in a body, to 

 a single bird ; and indeed so completely that they desert the 

 young ones which are hatched late, leaving them a prey to the 

 Falcon and other rapacious birds who watch for them at 

 the mouths of their holes. Yet notwithstanding this apparent 

 neglect of their young- at this time, when every other instinct 

 is merged in the desire and necessity of migration, probably 

 after food, no bird is more attentive to them in general, since 

 they will suffer themselves to be taken by the hand; and use 

 every endeavor to save and screen their young, biting not only 

 their antagonist j but, when laid hold of by the wings, inflicting 

 bites on themselves, as if actuated by the agonies of despair; 



