PUFFIN.
FRATERCULA ÁRCTICA [Linn.).
Alea arctica, Linn. S. N. i. p. 211 (17GG).
Lunda arctica, Naum. xii. p. 577.
Mormon arcticus, Macg. v. p. 3G5.
Fratercula arctica, Hewitson, ii. p. 466; Yarr. ed. 4, iv.
p. 9 0 ; Dresser, viii. p. 599.
Macareux, French ; arktische Lund, German ; Frailecillo
(Graells), Spanish; Frare, Sit (Vayreda), Catalan.
The Puffin breeds in enormous numbers on many
parts of the rocky coasts of the three kingdoms, laying
its solitary egg in burrows either made by itself or by
rabbits at the summit or in the face of sea-cliffs. These
birds come to their breeding-places in March and April,
but do not lay before May, and as soon as the young
are fully fledged and able to provide for themselves the
whole colonies leave their summer-quarters, and it is
exceptional to meet with these birds in any number
on or even near the English coasts during the winter
months. Endless instances of the occurrence of the
Puffin far inland are on record : one of the most remarkable,
in my experience, being that of an adult male of
this species which flew through an open window of an
upper room in Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, on
May lGth, 1887, and is now stuffed in my possession.
The beak of the Puffin undergoes a curious change, on
which subject I cannot do better than quote the concise
account given by Mr. Seebohm, in his ' History of
British Birds,' as follows:—"After the autumnal moult
the sheath of the basal half of the bill is cast, as are also
the warty red skin round the gape and the appendages
above and below the eye."