5 i4 PUFFIN. Class II. 



rife of the Puffin from the ground very difficult, 

 and it meets with many falls before it gets on wing; 

 but when that is effected, few birds fly longer or 

 ftronger. 

 Place. Thefe birds frequent the. coafts of feveral parts 



of Great Britain and Ireland \ but no place in 

 greater numbers than Prieftholm IJle*, where their 

 flocks may be compared to fwarms of bees for mul- 

 titude. Thefe are birds of paffage ; refort there 

 annually about the fifth or tenth of April, quit the 

 place (almoft to a bird) and return twice or thrice 

 before they fettle to burrow and prepare for ova- 

 tion and incubation. They begin to burrow the 

 fir ft week in May, but fome few faye themfelves 

 that trouble, and diflodge the rabbets from their 

 holes, and take poffefiion of them till their return 

 from the ifle. Thofe which form their own bur- 

 rows, are at that time fo intent on the work as to 

 fuffer themfelves to be taken by the hand. This 

 tafk falls chiefly to the fhare of the males, for on 

 diffection ten out of twelve proved of that fex. 

 The males alio aflift in incubation \ for on diffec- 

 tion feveral males were found fitting. 



The flrft young are hatched the beginning of 

 July, the old ones (hew van: affection towards them ; 

 and feern totally infenfible of danger on the breed- 

 ing feafon. If a parent is taken at that time, and 

 : ended by the wing?, it will in a fort of defpair 



* Off the coaft of Angle fie. 



treat 



