. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. 30-i OEDEES OF BIEDS—AVEAK-WIXGED DIVEES things in feathers. The countenance of a Puffin always reminds one of a face in a comical mask, while in mamier they are so solemn, and take life so seriously, their clown-likeness is all the more pronounced. The most remarkable featuie of a Puffin is its huge, triangular beak, which is flattened out into two high, thin plates, set edgewise against the head, and gorgeousl\' colored. After the breeding-season, certain plates at. 1. CO
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. 30-i OEDEES OF BIEDS—AVEAK-WIXGED DIVEES things in feathers. The countenance of a Puffin always reminds one of a face in a comical mask, while in mamier they are so solemn, and take life so seriously, their clown-likeness is all the more pronounced. The most remarkable featuie of a Puffin is its huge, triangular beak, which is flattened out into two high, thin plates, set edgewise against the head, and gorgeousl\' colored. After the breeding-season, certain plates at. 1. COMMON PUFFIN. 2. TUFTEU PUFFIN. 3. 'OCEROS .^UKLET. the base of the beak are shed. The bird is about the size of a summer-duck. Its wings are short, and very scantily feathered, and its tail is so short as to l)o practically invisible. In flight its wings look very much like the wings of a penguin as it swims with them under water. In many respects Puffins aie wise Ijirds, and if there is aught in the survi-\-al of the fittest, they should live long and prosper. They ha\'e the remarkable habit of nesting in burrows, which they dig deeply, usually about three feet, in the steep sides of sandy hills. In these re- treats they can defend against ene- mies of several kinds. In the defence of their homes they are ciuite courageous, and often an angry or well-frightened Puffin will seize an offending nose, or human hand, bite it severely, and hang on like a bull-dog. In places where these birds nest in burrows, sentinels are always posted outside, to give the alarm of any ap- proaching enemy. It is to be observed, however, that Puffins do not always nest in burrows, but frequently they find rock-ledges so rugged and broken that they can find good nesting-sites in deep and nar- row crevices, wherein they are reasonably safe from molestation. A Puffin lays but one egg, which is large and white, and placed at the end of its burrow. Of course all these birds dive and swi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookp, booksubjectnaturalhistory
