467 
SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 
Gould’s “ Birds of.Europe,” Part II. 
By Shirley Palmer, M.D. 
(Continued from p. 411.) 
Griffon Vulture, Vulturfulvus ,—le Vautour Griffon, Fr. —Avoltoio di-color- 
eastagno, It. —Weisskopfiger Geier,G.—An excellent drawing of it is given in the 
second plate of the first livraison of Werner’s Atlas. This fine bird— le Griffon 
of Buffon, and, in its immature state, Vultur Kolbit of Latham, and le Vautour 
chasse-fiente of Vaillant —inhabits Turkey, the Tyrol, Alps, Pyrenees, South- 
Europe, and the Northern regions of Africa. It abounds particularly in the 
vicinity of Gibraltar. The nest is formed in inaccessible rocks and precipices. 
The eggs are greyish-white, marked with spots of a reddish-white colour. 
The Puffin, Mormon fratercula of Temminck, Alca Arctica , Linnaeus,— 
Fabradora , Gmelin,— Fratercula Arctica , Stephens, —and Piffnus flavirostris 
of ornithological reformers. This singular bird—the Puffin Auk and Labrador 
Auk, of Latham, le Macareux , and Macar. moine , of French,—der Arktische Aik, 
and Graukehliger Aik, of German, naturalists—formerly arranged among the 
Alcce , now constitutes the type, and only European species, of the genus Mormon 
of Temminck. The following are the distinguishing characters, as traced by that 
celebrated ornithologist:— u Beak shorter than the head, more deep than long, 
and much compressed. Both mandibles arched, transversely furrowed, and 
notched at the tip; the ridge of the superior mandible acute, and elevated above 
the level of the cranium. Nostrils lateral, marginal, linear, bare, and nearly 
closed by a naked membrane. Tarsi short, retracted in the abdomen. Toes 
three only, anterior, and completely webbed. Nails (especially the two internal) 
much hooked. Wings short: first quill-feather as long as, or a little longer than, 
the second.” The Puffin, although extensively inhabiting the Polar regions, is, 
with us, known only as a Summer-visitant. It arrives on the coasts of Britain 
about the middle of April, and takes its departure for the South of Europe about 
the second week of August. The single egg, of a dirty-white colour, is deposited 
in a burrow of the earth formed by the male, and frequently provided with a 
double entrance. It is almost exclusively an aquatic bird; and feeds principally 
on the smaller fishes, marine Crustacea , and plants. The Northern Puffin ( Fra¬ 
tercula glacialis , Leach), distinguished only by the inferior size of the beak, is 
regarded, by Selby, as a young bird of this species: for the organ, he observes, 
does not attain its full strength and development till the expiration of the second 
vol. iv.— no. XXXIII. 3 p 
