THE PUFFIN AUK. C43 



Battles between the puffin and raven. 



fords a most singular combat. As soon as the 

 raven approaches, the puffin catches him under 

 the throat with its beak, and sticks its claw into 

 his breast, which makes the raven, with a loud 

 screaming, attempt to get away; but the little 

 bird still holds fast to the invader, nor lets him 

 go till they both come to the sea, where they 

 drop down together, and the raven is drowned : 

 yet the raven is but too often successful, and in- 

 vading the puffin at the bottom of its hole, de- 

 vours both the puffin and its family. 



" But/' Goldsmith observes with much pro- 

 priety, " were a punishment to be inflicted for 

 immorality in irrational animals, the puffin is 

 justly a sufferer from invasion, as it is often itself 

 one of the most terrible invaders. Near the Isle 

 of Anglesey, in an islet called Priesholin, their 

 flocks may be .compared, for multitude, to swarms 

 of bees. In another islet, called the Calf of Man, 

 a bird of this kind, but of a different species, is 

 seen in great abundance. In both places, num- 

 bers of rabbits are found to breed; but the puffin, 

 unwilling to be at the trouble of making a hole, 

 when there is one ready made, dispossesses the 

 rabbits, and it is not unlikely destroys their young. 

 It is in these unjustly acquired retreats that the 

 young puffins are found in great numbers, and 

 become a very valuable acquisition to the natives 

 of the place. The old ones (I am now speaking 

 of the Manks' puffin) early in the morning at 

 Jjxeak of day, leave their nests and young, and 

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