NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 251 



The eggs, though differing considerably in their markings, are comparatively 

 uniform in size and shape, being usually about three inches in length by a very 

 little less than two in breadth. The ground color is either pure white or with 

 a creamy or light bluish tinge. The spots are of different shades of umber 

 brown, very often attracted into a ring around the larger end, but sometimes 

 pretty uniformly distributed. They vary in size from mere points to large 

 blotches. The eggs, though thus differing among themselves, still always 

 preserve a certain character distinct from that of the Murre, through all the 

 endless variations of the latter. They are smaller, their shape is less elon- 

 gated, they are never of a green ground color, and are never fantastically 

 streaked and lined the more usual pattern among those of the Murre. 



I was not a little surprised, when I visited the Puffin Islands, to find there 

 the Auks also, breeding in considerable numbers. I estimated that a fourth or 

 fifth part of the many thousand birds breeding there were of this species. On 

 the north side the island is rocky and precipitous, and there the birds princi- 

 pally collected ; yet on all other sides they were mixing indiscriminately with 

 the Puffins, and laying their single egg in the deserted holes of the latter. In 

 these holes, where the earth was comparatively dry and warm, not a vestige of 

 a nest of any kind was found, the egg being deposited on the bare ground. 

 Associated so intimately, I never saw the slightest semblance of any difficulty 

 between the two specie*, although in some instances they were incubating in 

 contiguous holes. At that date (July 25th) some of the eggs were quite fresh, 

 and I found young birds, from which is to be inferred that the species is not 

 very exact as to the time of laying its eggs. 



I noticed another fact that I do not recollect of having seen recorded; it is, 

 that the Auks associate in considerable numbers with the Murres. While 

 passing the well-known rocks where the latter were breeding in tens of thou- 

 sands, among the countless flocks flying constantly around us, we never failed 

 to detect some of the Auks, either in flocks by themselves or mixing indiscrimi- 

 nately with the Murres. Although the two birds are identical in size and 

 colors, they could always be distinguished, even at the distance of a long gun 

 shot, by their bills ; the long, slender and pointed ones of the Murres contrast- 

 ing distinctly with the short, thick, seemingly truncate bills of the Auks. As 

 a natural consequence of this intermingling, the eggs must of necessity be con- 

 founded ; yet I do not think it would be difficult to distinguish with tolerable 

 certainty the two kinds, by the differences already pointed out. 



It would seem the Razor-billed Auk is capable of conforming its habits in a 

 remarkable degree to suit varying circumstances, while carrying out the great 

 law of reproduction. Its eggs are deposited in fissures and caverns with the 

 Black Guillemot, on the bare rock with the Murre, and in holes in the ground 

 with the Puffin. The time of depositing its eggs, and their number, (?) also 

 vary. The fact of its associating in perfect harmony with other species to the 

 extent which it does, indicates the possession of a remarkably peaceful dispo- 

 sition. It is known universally to all fishermen and eggers, as well as to the 

 natives, by the singular name of " Tinker." Its proper name I never heard 

 applied to it. 



Mormon arcticus?* Illiger. Arctic Puffin. "Parrakeet." 

 Mormon arcticus, Aud., Birds Amer. vii. 238, pi. 464. Cassin, Gen. Rep. 903. 

 The habit of collecting in immense numbers at particular localities during 



* A series of Puffins recently received from Europe by the Smithsonian Institution, has 

 raised a doubt with regard to the specific identity of the American bird with the true 

 M. arcticus of Europe. I have therefore thought it proper to give the name arcticus with 

 a query. It is also believed that there is on the Labrador coast an undescribed species 

 of Mormon, in addition to the present. Prof. Baird is at present investigating the subject, 

 the results of which will soon be published in a monograph. 



1861.] 



