MANKS PUFFIN. 
rlshed, and become fat to an amazing degree. 
So numerous are these birds, that they afford 
a considerable revenue to the lord of the 
island, by whom persons are deputed to take 
them. Tliey are generally drav^^n out from 
the barrows with a hooked stick, of which 
they keep such fast hold as not to be easily 
disengaged. Their noise, when taken, is 
very disagreeable, being like the efforts of a 
dumb person endeavouring to speak. The 
constant depredation which these birds an- 
nually suffer, does not, in the smallest degree, 
seem to intimidate them, or drive them avv-ay ; 
on the contrary, the iVIanks people say, the 
nest must be robbed, or the old ones will 
breed there no longer. The flesh is said to 
be exceedingly rank, as they feed on fish, 
especially sprats, and on spawn and sea- 
weed : however, when pickled and preserved 
with spices, they are much relished by the 
lovers of what is called high eating. Not- 
withstanding their extreme fecundity, they are 
said only to lay a single egg, except one is 
taken away ; they then lay a second, or even 
a third. In August, these birds quit their sum- 
mer residence, and return the ensuing spring. 
Tliev 
