PLATE VI. 
| eleventh of Auguf? they all go off, to a fingle bird*, and fo coma 
pletely as to-defert the young ones that are late hatched ; leaving them 
__a prey to the Peregrine Falcon, who watches at the mouth of the? 
holes for them, as they through hunger, are compelled to come outs 
Notwithftanding the neglect of their young at this time, no bird is more: 
attentive to them in general, as they will fuffer themfelves to be taken 
‘by the hand, and ufe every means of defence in their power to fave 
them; and, if laid hold of by the wings, will give themfelves moft. 
cruel bites on.any part of the body they can reach, as if adtuated by 
defpair ; and when releafed, inftead of me away, will often hurry, 
away into the burrow to their young.” Lat. Gen. Syn, 5. 316.— 
Aré, Lol, 
Their flefh is exceffively rank, as they feed on fifh, Eee 
fprats, or on fall crabs, fea-weeds, &c. yet that of the you ung birds 
is often pickled and preferved with fpices, and is much admired by 
fome for its peculiar flavor + Dr. Caius writes, that in his days the 
church allowed them in Lent, inftead of fifth; and alfo that th 1ey were 
taken by means of ferrets, as now they are by raddits : at prefent they 
large for the bignefs of the bird, even bigger than bens or ducks, of a reddifo or fandy 
colour, much fharper at one end than den’s eggs, and blunter at the other.” wel. 2. 
P: 7385 79+ 
But it appears very probable that Albin was miftaken as to the colour of the eggs, if 
we may Judge by the concurrence of the beft informed naturaiifts of the prefent time ; 
“ | muft add,”’ fays Pennant, “ that they lay only one egg, which differs much in form ; 
fome have one end very acute; others have both extremely obtufe; all are abite. 
Brit. Zool. | 
* “ The Reverend Mr. Hugh Davies, of Beaumaris, informed me, that on the 23d of 
Auguft (1776) fo entire was the migration, that neither Puffin, Razor-Bill, Guillemot 
- or ‘Tern was tobe feen there.” Brit, Zool. 2. 51S. 
i “ They are potted at St. Kilda and elfewhere, and fent to London as rarities. The 
bones are taken out, and the. flefl wrapped in the fkin; arg eaten with vinegar, and 
tafty tike baked herrings. Lat. Gen, Sy/). 
E ee 
