PUFFIN.
iliickly covered bj large flocks Hunting quietly (in the surface or rising occasionally on wing. In tlic
twilight hours Puffins invariably exhibit the greatest activity; it is only about sunset or shortly after
daybreak that 1 have noticed these immense gatherings in this part of the Firth.
A wounded I'uftln always attacks his captor with the greatest determination, though the bite he is
able to inflict is by no means so severe as might bo expected from the form of his singular bill.
While procuring specimens in summer plumage off the island of Craig Lett*, in June 1885a I succeeded
in stopping half a dozen (all that were needed) at a single shot. The majority of the victims proving
Honiidcil, an attempt was first made to secure n lively cripple struggling on the surface; two or three
others that had dived, rising as this bird was seized, fixed on my arm, and were lifted into the boat
without further trouble, all signs of the nips they administered rapidly disappearing. It is evident that
several writers on British ornithology, who have described the beak or this species as hard and sharp and
capable of iullicting a seven wound, can never have procured the birds themselves and examined them
at once, as this is not the fact. Iu life the edges of both mandibles are broad, soft, and fleshy, and it
is only some time after death, when nil the soft parts have dried up and contracted, that such an idea
could lie formed, as the bite the poor wounded bird inflicts, if be happens to grip your hand when you
lift him into the boat, is scarcely perceptible.
This quaint-looking species resorts to a variety of situations for breeding-purposes ; though well
able to excavate a hole for themselves in soft mould, they occasionally fraternize with the rabbits, or at
times (probably owing to the effect of the guano) evict them from their burrows. To ascertain the
numbers that rear their young among the ruins of the old fortifications on the Bass, the rock must be
visited shortly after daybreak or at dusk.. In the lower dungeons I have watched these birds emerging
from cracks and crevices among the masonry, as well as from beneath the fallen blocks encumbering
the passages and adjacent ledges. Hundreds in early morning, wdicn no cause for alarm has arisen, may
lie seen resting quietly on tin' projecting stones of the building or the slabs below the openings by
which they gain an entrance; during the day not a Puffin is to lie observed, so I suppose they may be
considered somewhat nocturnal in their habits.
To the best of my knowledge, the intermediate stages of the Puffin have been overlooked by the
majority of writers; neither has any opinion been given as to the nge at which the bird assumes all
signs of maturity. Few of this species appear to approach the laud while exhibiting the intermediate
tinges unless driven ashore by the buffetings of protracted storms. The first immature l'ufliu that came
under my notice was obtained in a dying condition oil' Whitby on the Yorkshire coast in July l8o2;
the second was secured alive off Brighton on the 1st of July, 1S71; this specimen was turned out in
the garden, and taking up its quarters in a small pond, thrived well for over a year, no alteration
having taken place in the colouring of the soft parts or plumage at the time of its death. While
fishing off the Bass, an immature bird was taken in the landing-net floating helplessly past the boat
after • gale in October 1*71; another in precisely similar dress, and corresponding in the colouring of
the soft parts, was obtained oir Brighton during the first week of April 1879, the last in this stage
that came under my observation being captured by a fisherman on the 13th of February, 18*3, a few
miles olf lancing. The notes taken down descriptive of the tints of the soft parts of these birds show a
great similarity, little iT any distinction lieing apparent lietween those obtained during summer, autumn,
or winter. In order to give a correct representation of the beak of this species, it is necessary that a
sketch should be taken immediately after the specimen is secured. The bright liuts on the sort portions
of the mandibles, that render the adults so conspicuous in summer, rapidly shrivel up and fade; n change
also takes place with birds procured in winter, the lower mandible contracting to a considerable extent
and the markings gradually disappearing.
PUFFIN. 3
An adult l'ufliu iu the full breeding-plumage is represented iu the Plate; the colouring of the soft
parts, which may possibly be found to differ from the figures in certain works, was taken from a sketch
made within a few minutes of the death of the bird, which was shot at the Bass on the llJth of August. 1^71,
Willi regard to the age of the juvenile, I can oiler 110 opinion, never hai nig succeeded in keeping lliis spoci ~
iu confinement for any length or time; the specimen whose portrait is given was caught oil' Brighton
on July 1st, 1871; 1 remarked that in every particular it corresponded with others obtained at various
dates during autumn and winter. It is needless to state the colours on the beak, feet, or legs of the
adult; and those of the immature bird are also plainly shown in the Plate. On the 13th of February,
1S83, I examined a specimen, the soft parts of which may be di scribed as follows: — Iris dark brown;
no circle round the eye. Upper inaudible a red-brown at the base, turning into a darker brown at the
point; lower inaudible a livid slate tint near the base, turning into a warm brown towards the point.
Inside of mouth ami tongue pale yellow. The legs a livid blue at the knee-joint; yellow lingo down
fore part of tarsi and a livid flesh on the back part. Webs a dusky olive-yellow; toes yellow, with
the exception of the outer oil each foot, which was of a pale livid flesh-tint; nails black.
Though various other names are bestowed on this species, it is only as Tommie Nortel on the east
coast of Scotland, and Tannine Rookies on the west, that I have heard these birds spoken of by the
natives of the localities in which they abound.