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Puffin

The size of the common puffin is not much greater than that of a pigeon. These birds may be found congregating together in large numbers--favourite breeding-places being covered with puffins, old and young, in thousands. Their haunts are chiefly unfrequented islands and headlands where there is some depth of soil. The flesh of the young birds is used as food. Puffins are easily captured; the approach of man does not readily frighten them, and many are captured by means of a noose at the end of a rod. This bird was formerly permitted by the Church to be used as food on Lenten days; but its flesh, unless pickled and spiced, is disagreeable, strong, and fishy.