6 WATER BIRDS 



short as to be * practically invisible. Floating on the 

 water it seems to have fallen over on its face and to be 

 unable to right itself, so that it looks much more like 

 a bit of wood than a bird. You glance at it carelessly, 

 never dreaming that it n)ay be alive, when suddenly it 

 dives, leavhig no trace. In a moment it reappears at 

 some distance away, only to dive again the instant you 

 turn in its direction. It is perfectly at home on or in 

 the water, although so helpless on land, and can swim 

 a long distance submerged. 



Largely nocturnal in habits, migi'ating and feeding at 

 night ; it hides from the sun in burrows or behind rocks 

 during the day, and if brought into the strong light it 

 blinks like an owl. At night it flies swiftly in flocks, 

 with peculiar, plaintive cries, after the manner of the 

 swift. In winter it is found on most of the islands 

 along the coast from Tia Juana and San Diego north. 

 Migrates in flocks about May 1. Is recorded from Santa 

 Catalina. 



16. CASS IN AUK LET. — Ptychoramphus aleuticus. 



Family : The Auks, Murres, and Puffins. 



Length: 8.75. 



Adults: Above, dark slate-color, merging into ashy on sides of head and 



neck ; upper breast and sides slate ; lower breast and belly white ; a 



white spot on lower eyelids. 

 Downy Young : Soft brownish gray. 

 Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast of North America from Alaska 



to Lower California. 

 Breeding Range: From San Benito Islands northward. 

 Breeding Season: Approximately, April 1 to September 1. 



