96 A YEAR OF SPORT AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



incident. A pair of Lesser Gulls selected for their nesting-place 

 the middle of a sheep run. All who are famihar with the habits 

 of these northern sheep know that they invariably follow their 

 leader on the same track. The Gulls sitting on their nests in this 

 run were not disturbed by the passing of the sheep, although, as 

 the leader leapt over the sitting bird, every one of the whole flock, 

 however numerous, followed his example. 



To visitors to many of our northern islands the Puffin is one of 

 the best known of Enghsh sea-birds. It breeds in countless 

 thousands in appropriate situations, such as the Bass Rock in 

 the Firth of Forth, St. Kilda, the Farn Islands, and other places. 

 In the summer-time, when it is nesting, its numbers are almost 

 incredible. The sea is thickly spotted with the birds, and on any 

 alarm they seek safety in diving in preference to flight, although, 

 in truth, their progress under water is absolute flying, the wings 

 being used to propel them with great speed and often for a very 

 long distance. The wings of the Puffin are remarkable, as being 

 of that happy medium, as regards size, which enables them to be 

 used for flight in the air and as fins when under water ; the 

 Puffin in this respect differing from the majority of diving birds 

 that propel themselves by their feet alone. The nest of this 

 singular bird is either deposited in a fissure of the cliffs or at 

 some distance down a burrow in the turf, an old rabbit warren 

 being often used for this purpose. The holes vary considerably 

 in shape and size, and sometimes a couple of pairs will live in the 

 same burrow. Like many other sea birds, the Puffin lays but a 

 single egg, which is covered with faint spots, not being white like 

 the generality of eggs laid in holes. The young bird, when 

 hatched, remains in the nest until it is able to fly, being carefully 



