But... But... *blinks in bafflement* I thought puffins published nice, wholesome children's books. At least, that's what they told me when I was a member of the Puffin Club. Do you mean to tell me that they were roping me - poor innocent child that I was - into a club built on seediness and uncivilised behaviour? If so, Something Should Be Done About It. From Outraged, (formerly) of Cheltenham Spa.
Puffins are essentially monogamous. Each year, the female comes back to the burrow first, and clears it out, evicting any rabbits who have taken up residence over the winter. Then the male arrives.
If the male doesn't turn up on time, however, the female will take a toyboy, and string him along for a little while. If the original male turns up very late, having spent too much time larking it up with the boys, he gets thrown out on his ear, and the toyboy becomes the new mate. However, if the original male is just a bit late, it's the toyboy who gets shown the entrance to the burrow.
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Date: 2007-05-17 07:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 07:37 pm (UTC)Creatrix adds that she wouldn't call scratching your chin with foot "civilised".
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Date: 2007-05-17 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 07:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 08:01 pm (UTC)I thought it was Morris dancing.
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Date: 2007-05-17 08:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 08:11 pm (UTC)Actually, I take it back. They're Molly dancing, in both pictures.
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Date: 2007-05-17 08:12 pm (UTC)Or - oh, I have, it's just not the sort of thing a well-brought-up young puffin should do.
(Mind you, having heard what puffins get up too, there isn't much I wouldn't put past them).
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Date: 2007-05-17 08:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 08:26 pm (UTC)If the male doesn't turn up on time, however, the female will take a toyboy, and string him along for a little while. If the original male turns up very late, having spent too much time larking it up with the boys, he gets thrown out on his ear, and the toyboy becomes the new mate. However, if the original male is just a bit late, it's the toyboy who gets shown the entrance to the burrow.
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Date: 2007-05-17 08:52 pm (UTC)