PUFFIN 
285 
mature specimen, in winter plumage. A similar bird is in 
possession of Mrs. T. H. Kinvig, of Castletown. 
Mr. Ussher notes seven specimens from Antrim and 
three from Down. It has occurred very rarely in Galloway, 
Cumberland, and Lancashire, sometimes even a considerable 
distance inland. About the northern isles of Scotland it is 
a much more common winter visitor, but is rare in the 
Outer Hebrides. It is an Arctic species, and decidedly 
most frequent on the east coasts of Scotland and England. 
FRATERCULA ARCTICA (Linn.). PUFFIN. 
Parrot, Sea Parrot. Manx, Pibbin (Cr.) ; Poltrag (Kermode). 
The Puffin is in summer very numerous on the Calf, 
where a century ago it was noted by Town ley and Feltham. 
The former found them used as food on the Calf. 'We 
got/ he says, ' a second refreshment from our stores, to 
which was added, by the very civil old lady, a dish of cold 
parrots, with an assurance from her that they were excellent 
food, and that they afforded a broth, or soop (sic), that was 
uncommonly good and nourishing. I tasted one of the 
birds, and found it savoury, not ungrateful to the palate, 
and was therefore induced to purchase the new-taken ones, 
in order to try their excellency in the article of broth, or 
soup, which was so highly commended by the old lady.' 
There is much ground on the islet suited to its breeding 
habits. Above, and sometimes alternating with the sheerer 
cliff, are steep slopes of soil covered with a rich growth of 
scurvy-grass, sea-campion, and sea-feverfew, and sometimes, 
as on much of the north-west of the Calf, mixed with fallen 
debris of stone and great earth-fast boulders, amidst which 
the nesting holes are inaccessible. On the east side, about 
