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it visits the coasts of Algeria in winter ; and Favier says that it is found near Tangier from 

 November to March, and sometimes even as late as April or May, and is more often met with 

 than the Gannet, and frequently picked up dead on the sea-shore after stormy weather. 



On the American coast the Puffin is very abundant on the coasts and islands of the North 

 Atlantic, and breeds numerously off the coast of Labrador and in the Bay of Fundy. In winter 

 it is met with south to Massachusetts. It appears doubtful if it occurs on the Pacific side ; or, 

 if it does, it is exceedingly rare. The species which there replaces it is Fratercula comiculata 

 (Naum. Isis, 1821, p. 782, taf. 7. figs. 3, 4), which differs from the larger-billed form of the 

 present species in having a slender upright horn on the upper eyelid; and the black on the 

 throat extends to the bill. 



Many competent authorities have decided to separate the present species into two, and give 

 specific rank to the northern form on account of its larger size, separating it under the name of 

 Fratercula glacialis. In this view, however, I am unable to concur. I have carefully measured 

 all the specimens I have had for examination, and find that the variation in size of adult birds is 

 as follows: — Great Britain, wing 6T5 to 6-5 inches, greatest height of bill T2 to L35; Norway, 

 wing 6-8, bill 1*42; Iceland, wing 6*62, bill T4; Greenland, wing 6 - 7, bill 1'5 ; Labrador, wing 

 6-70, bill 1-55 ; Spitzbergen, wing 6-9 to 7-2, bill L4 to 1-55 inch. 



From this it will be seen that the specimens found further south are the smallest, those 

 from Spitzbergen being the largest in size, but that there is a considerable variation in size in 

 specimens from the same locality, which renders it impossible to draw a line of separation between 

 the largest and the smallest form ; and it is therefore, I consider, unadvisable to separate them 

 into two species. 



The Puffin is essentially a bird of the ocean, and lives out at some distance from the shore, 

 except during the breeding-season, when it betakes itself to the rugged portions of the coast. It 

 swims swiftly and buoyantly, sitting very lightly on the water, and flies with tolerable swiftness. 

 Like the Razorbill and Guillemots, it dives exceedingly well, and moves about as if flying under 

 the surface of the water in pursuit of small fishes, and will even at considerable depths dive to the 

 bottom in search of mollusca. It arrives at its breeding-haunts, which are usually large cliffs 

 overhanging the sea, early in April, and is very regular in its appearance. Dr. Saxby states, " It 

 is generally believed in the island of Unst that the Puffins have an almost preternatural faculty 

 for timing their movements according to the calendar, the whole body of them departing on a 

 given day in each year with the regularity of clockwork. Without going quite so far as this, 

 I cannot but admit that the birds do leave with most notable punctuality, the 23rd day of August 

 being almost always the marked day of the migration. Thomas Edmonston also gives this date, 

 saying that the Puffin generally arrives about the 1st April, and departs constantly on the 23rd 

 of August. It need scarcely be remarked that a few stragglers are left to bring up the rear. A 

 flock may now and then be seen as late as the first week in September; but such an occurrence is 

 very unusual ; and it is very rarely indeed that a Puffin is seen with us in the winter. As a rule 

 the birds arrive in the last week in March, and begin laying about the third week in May, this 

 being perhaps a little early on an average." The localities selected for nidification are usually 

 lofty cliff's or rocks on the coast, or tolerably high turf-covered tableland ; and its nests are either 



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