COMMON OR ARCTIC PUFFIN. 241 



the season. The time of incubation is probably from twenty-five to twenty- 

 eight days, although I have not been able to ascertain the precise period. 

 Both birds work in digging the hole, using their bills and feet; they also sit 

 alternately on their egg, although the female engages more industriously in 

 this occupation, while the male labours harder at the burrow. The egg is 

 pure white when first deposited, but soon becomes soiled by the earth, as no 

 nest is formed for its reception. It generally measures two and a half inches 

 by one and three-fourths, but varies in size according to the age of the bird, 

 as well as in shape, some being considerably more rounded at the smaller 

 end than others. When boiled, the white is of a livid-blue colour. The 

 captain and myself were the only persons of our party who tried to eat 

 some. The eggs are certainly very bad, and are never collected by "The 

 Eggers." The flesh of the birds is very dark, tough, and so fishy as to be 

 eatable only in cases of great want. Two Italians who had come to 

 Labrador to purchase cod-fish, and were short of provisions, fed upon 

 Puffins daily, to the great amusement of our party. The fishermen at times, 

 when bait is scarce along the coast, destroy a great number of these birds, 

 which they skin like rabbits, and then cut the flesh into slices. 



The flight of the Puffin is firm, generally direct, now and then pretty well 

 sustained. It is able to rise at once from the water or the land, although at 

 times it runs on both before taking to wing. This depends much on 

 necessity, for if pushed it flies at once from the ground, or plunges under the 

 surface of the water. There they swim, with the wings partially opened, at 

 a small depth, passing along in the manner of Divers; and by this means 

 they catch their prey; but at other times they dive to the bottom, many 

 fathoms deep, for shell-fish and other objects. 



During the love season, the males chase each other in the air, on the 

 water, or beneath its surface, with so much quickness, as to resemble the 

 ricochets of a cannon-ball. Having kept several for about a week, I threw 

 them overboard in the harbour where we were at anchor, and where the 

 water was beautifully clear. On leaving my gloved hand, they plunged 

 through the air, entered the water, and swam off, assisting themselves by 

 their wings to the distance of from fifty to a hundred yards. On coming 

 up, they washed their plumage for a long time, and then dived in search of 

 food. "While on board, they ran about from the dark towards the light, 

 keeping themselves erect, and moving with great briskness, until at times 

 close to my feet, when they would watch my motions like Hawks, and if I 

 happened to look towards them, would instantly make for some hiding- 

 place. They fed freely and were agreeable pets, only that they emitted an 

 unpleasant grunting noise, and ran about incessantly during the night, when 

 each footstep could be counted. When on rocky shores, or islands with 



Vol. VII. 35 



