146 
THE RAT. 
tarns, and the pheasants' under larger hens. When the 
sqmre returned, after three years' absence, I had perhaps the 
finest stock of game, for the size of the place, in all England. 
Gentlemen and gamekeepers used to come far and near to 
see it ; and it was the admiration of all who came. I became 
the squire's confidential man for forty years ; and when he 
died I retired, and have lived upon my means ever since." 
In Part II., under the heads of " Trapping " and ^' Poison- 
ing " of rats (Chapters XI. and XII) much useful information 
will be found, derived from " Whistling Joe's " long expe- 
rience. 
CHAPTER XIX. 
MISCELLANEOUS ANECDOTES OF SERMULOTS AND SNAILS. 
The " Quarterly Review " informs us, that when sermu- 
lots get possession of any bird-breeding island, where the ship 
may have stopped to take in water, they invariably drive 
away the feathered inhabitants, by plundering their nests of 
both eggs and young. In this way were the puffins driven 
ofi* Puffins' Island. 
The puffin (observes Mr. Bewick) is a foot long, with 
scarcely any tail, and weighs about twelve ounces. But 
from the size, shape, substance, and sharpness of its bill, it is 
commonly called the coulterneb or knife -bill. It lives a great 
deal on various kinds of shell-fish, which it is enabled to do 
from the great powers of its bill and jaws, which enable it 
to crush the shell, and pluck out the fish. At the same time 
it is a most dangerous weapon of defence, especially to small 
animals, since the bird can cut them almost to pieces with 
a few chops or bites. 
The female makes no nest, but deposits her egg on the 
bare mould, in a hole dug in the ground, or in those she may 
find ready-made by the rabbits, which she and her com- 
panion soon dislodge. They will also take shelter in these 
holes in stormy weather. They are very kind and attentive 
to their young, which they defend to the last against an 
enemy, and will suffer themselves to be killed or taken 
prisoners rather than desert them. 
