The Tufted Puffin 



Taken in Washington 



A PUFFIN BANK, FROM ABOVE 



Photo by the Author 



dant. On the American side, it breeds as far south as the Santa Barbara 

 Islands, and as far north as Cape Lisburne, in northwest Alaska. It is, 

 however, of comparatively rare occurrence in Arctic waters. On the Asiatic 

 side, its breeding range extends as far south as Japan; while its center of 

 abundance is generally conceded to be the Aleutian Islands. Deposition 

 of eggs occurs as early as May ist, in southern California, and as late as 

 August ist, in the northern latitudes; but fresh eggs may also be found 

 somewhere from June ist to June 20th at any given point in its breeding 

 range. Thus, on certain islets off the west coast of Washington, I have 

 found the Puffins punctual to a day, and depositions occurring with prac- 

 tical uniformity; whereas, on the Farallons, 191 1, there was a steady in- 

 crease in numbers from the ist to the 28th of May, with a few still to be 

 heard from on June 3rd. The winter range of this species comprises the 

 open ocean, and the birds are occasionally driven shoreward along the 

 Aleutian chain and the coasts of approximate latitudes. 



From time immemorial, the natives of the North Pacific islands 

 have placed large dependence upon the Puffins, Tufted and Horned, to 

 supply both food and clothing. Advantage is taken of the bird's inability 

 to alter quickly its course of flight — your Puffin is no dodger — and large 



I5H 



