DIVING BIRDS 



31a. Pali.as MrifKE. i'lia lomvia arra. 



Range. — The Pacific coasts and islands. 



This is the Pacific form of Brunnich Murre. Its breeding range is more 

 northerly than that of the California variety. Countless thousands of them 

 breed on the islands off the coast of Alaska, their breeding habits and eggs 

 being the same as the more southern form. 



32. Razok-billed Auk. Alca tarda. 



Range. — North Atlantic coast, breeding from Bird Rock northward and 

 Avintering south to the Middle States on the coast. 



Grayish white 



The Razor-billed Auk is in form similar to the Murres, but the bill is very 

 different, being deep and thin, and with the upper mandible rounded at the 

 tip. Entire upper parts black shading to brownish on the throat. Under parts 

 and tips of secondaries, white; line from eye to bill and another across the 

 middle of the bill, white. They nest in large numbers on Bird Rock in com- 

 pany with the Murres and in still greater numbers off the coast of Labrador. 

 Their eggs are not placed in as exposed positions as the Murres, being gen- 

 erally behind boulders or in crevices. This is necessary because, not being 

 of the pear-shaped form of the Murres, they would be very apt to be dislodged 

 if commonly placed on the narrow ledges. The eggs vary endlessly in mark- 

 ing but do not show the differences in ground color that the Murres do. The 

 color is white, grayish or buffy. But one egg is generally laid, although two 

 are sometimes found. Si55e .3.00 x 2.00. Data.— Bay of Fundy. June 17, 1891. "s^-^ 



Single egg laid on bare rock in a crevice under loose rocks. Collector, A. C. 

 Bent. 



31 



