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Show I Puffin, Birdland Clown, ; Mas Comical Expression j Equally at home In the air, on land, and in water, the puftin has been called the clown of birdland. j Thi-re is no bird with so comical I an expression of one which appears so unconcerned as you approach, says Tit-Llits Magazine, j There are colonies of many j thousands in the British Isles, the i largest being found on St. Kilda. It would be dillicult to estimate the I numbers on the steep slopes of that j desolate, seagirt Isle. The ptiiliu makes its nesting home ' at the end of a short burrow in the j ground, and at the end one large white egg is laid. The young putlin is a pretty little black fluffy ball, and during the time It lives in its underworld nest the parents bring quantities of small fish, for when It conies to diving they are a match for almost any fish they meet. Each parent brings in its beak anything up to ten fish. Gannets or solan geese, large sea birds, are clever divers, and while searching for prey they fiy at a height up to 300 feet. When the fish is sighted the birds close their wings and streak down at terrific speed. Entering the water they make a tremendous splash, but seldom come up without their catch. Some fishermen declare that the gannet dives directly on to its prey and does not use Its feet when traveling travel-ing under water, but as gannets have been captured in nets at a depth of 00 feet this statement cannot can-not be accepted. lny diving birds use wings and feet under water, and there is little doubt that the gannet gan-net does so, for It travels at high speed when chasing its prey. A bird under water must have power to twist and turn rapidly if It Is to catch the fish. |