280 PUFFIN.

with its keen eyes into the glassy water below: suddenly
it throws itself headlong into the abyss, cleaving the
waves, which sparkle as they close over it. Soon,
however, it re-appears, laden with a row of sprats, its
favourite food, which hang from the bill, their heads
being secured between its mandibles; and now taking
a curved sweep upwards, it bears them to its young.”