. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Tufted Puffin. TAKING Ol Later the Puffins settle upon the surface of the water until the sea is black with them. Each bird dives, if only for a moment, upon the instant of alighting; and it may be that they find it difficult to effect this exchange of medium without a spill. Rising also requires an effort, des- perate, if the sea is smooth, but easier in proportion to the increasing strength of the wind. Once the invader has left, or else secr
. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Tufted Puffin. TAKING Ol Later the Puffins settle upon the surface of the water until the sea is black with them. Each bird dives, if only for a moment, upon the instant of alighting; and it may be that they find it difficult to effect this exchange of medium without a spill. Rising also requires an effort, des- perate, if the sea is smooth, but easier in proportion to the increasing strength of the wind. Once the invader has left, or else secreted himself, the Puffins return rapidly to reclaim the cooling eggs, or to take up the sober vigil at the burrow's mouth. Each alights with uplifted wings held well back. The wings are also lifted from time to time as though to rest them, and they are brought into requisition as balancers whenever the bird attempts to walk. Be the going ever so easy, the Puffin shifts about as gingerly as the slack-wire performer. A Puffin's bill is so remarkable a creation that a glance at its structure may not be out of place; though as to what may be the necessity of this powerful crushing organ we are frankly ignorant. The bird is not a shallow-water feeder, and so has no need to reduce bivalves. Moreover, in the breeding season it seems to subsist upon small fish, especially the sand launce {Animodytes personatus Girard), which are easily taken by the slender-billed Murre. And, if the bill were designed to cope with some stubborn viand of the middle sea, why reduce its size in winter? 1510. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Dawson, William Leon, 1873-1928; Dickey, Donald R. (Donald Ryder), 1887-1932; Pierce, Wright M; Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953; Brooks, Allan, 1869-1946. San Diego ; Lo
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
