PUFFIN. 
467 
the water to the base of a lofty cliff, was entirely covered 
with large fragments of rock piled upon each other in the 
wildest confusion, and under them, vast numbers of these 
birds were breeding. Many thousands were passing in 
rapid flight around us, and thousands more were under¬ 
neath our feet; as we stumbled onwards, we could dis¬ 
tinctly hear them as we passed over their heads, croaking 
and gabbling to each other, and no doubt complaining of 
our intrusion. Tired with our walk, we sat down to 
enjoy the novelty and wild magnificence of the scene, and 
thousands of the birds settled near us. Every point of 
rock around us was covered with them, in the most beau¬ 
tiful groups, and hundreds were within gunshot of us at 
one time, some of them paying court to each other, puff¬ 
ing out their breasts, and putting themselves in the same 
ludicrous attitudes in which we often see the various 
breeds of pigeons. The Puffin lays only one egg, some¬ 
times spotless, but more frequently marked with various 
tints of colour, so very faint and indeterminate as to 
appear as though they were seen through the shell; the 
one figured, is from the collection of Mr. Bond, and is 
more beautifully coloured than is common. The nest, 
when there is one, which is only sometimes the case, is 
composed of a small quantity of grass placed in a hole at 
the depth of two or three feet. The bird sits very closely, 
and will allow itself to be caught upon the nest; of this 
I have often had very feeling experience when seeking 
for its egg, and after thrusting my arm into various holes 
to no purpose, have at last had notice of my success by 
the no means pleasant gripe of its sharp and powerful 
bill, with which it lays such tenacious hold of the finger, 
that you may draw it out. 
The usual time of breeding is late in May, or at the 
beginning of June. 
