Clafs II. PUFFIN. 407 



except Wormius, who has figured the Penguin, a bird 

 of this genus, with great propriety: this makes the 

 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 

 flronger. 



Thefe birds frequent the coafts of feveral parts of 

 Great-Britain and Ireland; but no place in greater 

 numbers than Priejibolme l/le*, where their flocks 

 may be compared to fwarms of bees for multitude. 

 Thefe are birds of pafTage •, refort thither in Aprils 

 and difpofleffing the rabbits of their holes, occupy 

 them till Aaguft, when they all difappear. They lay 

 but one egg, white, and of the fize of that of 

 a hen. 



Their flefh is exceffive rank, as they feed on fea 

 weeds and fifh, efpecially Sprats ; but when pickled 

 and preferved with fpices, are admired by thofe who 

 love high eating. Dr. Gains tells us, that in his days 

 the church allowed them in lent, inftead of fifh : he 

 alfo acquaints us that they were taken by means of 

 ferrets, as we do rabbits : at prefent they are either 

 dug out, or drawn from their burrows by a hooked 

 flick : they bite extremely hard, and keep fuch fad 

 hold on whatfoever they fatten, as not to be eafily 

 difengaged. Their noife, when taken, is very dis- 

 agreeable; being like the efforts of a dumb perfon to 

 fpeak. 



The notes of all the fea birds are extremely harfh 

 or inharmonious : we have often refted under the 



* OIF the coaft of Angkfea. 



rocks 



