TUFTED PUFFIN. 



41 



Larger than the Puffin : length nineteen inches : 

 beak an inch and three quarters in length, the same 

 in depth at the base, and crossed with three furrows : 

 the colours nearly as in the Puffin: the forehead, 

 sides of the head, and chin are white : irides yel- 

 lowish-brown : over each eye arises a tuft of feathers 

 four inches or more in length, which falls elegantly 

 on each side of the neck, reaching almost to the back ; 

 these are white as far as they are attached to the head, 

 but afterwards of a fine buff-yellow : the rest of the 

 plumage is black, palest on the under parts, and in- 

 clining to ash-colour: the shafts of the quills are 

 white : tail very short, consisting of sixteen feathers : 

 legs of a brownish-orange : claws black. " The female 

 scarcely differs, except in being less ; the beak crossed 

 only with two furrows, instead of three ; and the tuft 

 smaller." 



Latham gives the above description of this curious 

 bird, and adds, that it is found at Kamtschatka and 

 the neighbouring islands : the natives of which places 

 formerly used their beaks as amulets or charms ; and 

 at present make use of their skins for clothing. They 

 are stated to lay but one egg only : their food con- 

 sists of crabs, shrimps, and testacea : they burrow 

 under ground, and line their nest with feathers. 



