Part 3

Range.—Coast and islands of the northern Pacific. Breeds from Oregon to northern Alaska.

CASSIN AUKLET. 16. Ptychoramphus aleuticus. 9 inches.

A plain appearing bird, breast and throat grayish and belly white with blackish upper-parts relieved only by a small white spot over the eye. This Auklet is fairly abundant on the Farallones and islands off the Lower California coast.

Nest.—A single egg, dull white, the inside of the shell being a pale green when held to the light. These are laid in burrows or tunnels under the rocks, at times three or four feet long (1.80 × 1.30).

Range.—Pacific coast of N. A., Alaska to Lower California.

PAROQUET AUKLET. 17. Phaleris psittacula. 10 inches.

This bird is much like Cassin Auklet, but lacking the white spot over the eye and having a white breast. The bill is very peculiar, being quite deep and rounded and having an upward tendency. It is orange red in color.

Range.—The Alaskan coast, usually farther south in winter. Nesting in the Aleutian Islands, a single white egg is laid (2.25 × 1.40).

WHISKERED AUKLET. 19. Æthia pygmæa. 7½ inches.

Breeds quite abundantly on some of the Aleutian Islands. The single white egg is laid in burrows or crevices of the rocks (2.00 × 1.25).

CRESTED AUKLET. 18. Æthia cristatella. 8 to 9 inches.

Similar in form and plumage to the Paroquet Auklet, except the whole under parts are gray.

Nest and Range.—On the islands and main land of the Alaskan coast, laying only one chalky white egg in crevices or burrows under the rocks.

LEAST AUKLET. 20. Æthia pusilla. 6½ inches.

This is the smallest of the Auklets, and in habits are the same as others of the same family. They are one of the most abundant of the water birds of the extreme Northwest.

Nest.—Only one single white egg is laid upon the bare rocks or in crevices, on the islands of the Alaskan coast (1.50 × 1.10).

ANCIENT MURRELET. 21. Synthliboramphus antiquus. 11 inches.

The Murrelets have no crests or plumes and the bills are more slender than the Auklets and are not highly colored.

Nest.—One or two eggs are laid either in burrows or crevices of the rocks, buffy white in color, with faint markings of light brown.

Range.—Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska, breeding north of the United States.

MARBLED MURRELET. 23. Brachyramphus marmoratus. 10 inches.

Nesting habits and eggs are similar to the Ancient Murrelet (2.20 × 1.40) and range is same as above, possibly breeding a little farther south.

XANTHUS MURRELET. 25. Brachyramphus hypoleucus.

This bird is a dull black above, and entirely white below, including the sides of the head below the eye. The under-surface of the wing is also white.

Nest.—The single egg is laid at the end of burrows or under the rocks in dark places similar to the other Murrelets. It is a pale buffy white, and thickly but finely dotted with brown over the entire surface, heaviest on the larger end (2.05 × 1.40).

Range.—Resident along the coast of southern and Lower California, where it breeds on many of the islands.

PIGEON GUILLEMOT. 29. Cepphus columba. 13 inches.

This bird is very similar to the Black Guillemot except that the under-surfaces of the wings are dark. The nearly straight and slender bill is black, feathered to the upper edge of nostrils. Feet and inside of mouth bright red.