PUFFIN. 
407 
Northumberland, Priestholm Isle, near Anglesea, the small 
islands off St. David’s in Wales, the Isle of Wight, the cliffs of 
Beachy Head, Dover, Scarborough, and in the vicinity of Holy- 
head. These birds were also found by Audubon on the sterile 
and dreary coast of Labrador, but not beyond Brador ; they 
also probably inhabit the coasts of Newfoundland, and in the 
winter are seen in great numbers in the Bay of Fundy. They 
are little more than stragglers on the coast of New England, but 
according to Catesby proceed in the course of the season as 
far south as Carolina. In Europe they are also seen on the 
coasts of .Andalusia in Spain. 
In England, at Priestholm Isle, they are seen in flocks innu- 
merable. They assemble and begin to visit the island early in 
April, but do not commence their incubation until the first 
week in May. They make no proper nest, but burrow deep 
holes in the loose earth, in the labor of which both male and 
female unite, forming e.xcavations three or four feet in depth. 
As this labor is very considerable, they sometimes content them- 
selves with the deserted burrow of the rabbit, and probably at 
times dislodge the owners for this coveted convenience. They 
lay a single whitish-colored egg on the bare mould of their 
den. The young are hatched by the beginning of July, and .are 
attentively fed by the assiduous parents, who are now seen 
busily engaged fishing for them, and bringing their prey in the 
bill, until they are so far grown as to feed and defend them- 
selves. About the close of August they all go off in a body, to 
a single bird ; and indeed so completely that they desert the 
young ones which are hatched late, leaving them a prey to the 
Falcon and other rapacious birds who watch for them at 
the mouths of their holes. Yet notwithstanding this apparent 
neglect of their young at this time, when every other instinct 
is merged in the desire and necessity of migration, probably 
after food, no bird is more attentive to them in general, since 
they will suffer themselves to be taken by the hand, and use 
every endeavor to save and screen their young, biting not only 
their antagonist, but, when laid hold of by the wings, inflicting 
bites on themselves, as if actuated by the agonies of despair; 
