ALCID.E — ALCIN^: MURRES AND AUKS. 



1083 



Fig. 744. — Califoruiau Guillemot, nat. size. 



correspond.) European and American coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, to or beyond 

 hit. 80° N.; on the American side breeding from Gulf of St. Lawrence northward; in winter 

 S. to New England. Myriads of Murres congregate to breed on rocky islands, incubating 

 their single eggs as closely together as they can find standing-room on the shelves of the cliffs; 

 tlieir ranks serried on ledge after ledge, and clouds of birds whirling through the air. The 

 eggs, so numerous as to have commercial value, are notorious for their variability in coloration. 

 The size is great for that of the bird, averaging 3.25 X 2.00, running unusually from 3.00 to 

 3.50, with half as much variation in breadth. The ground color ranges from creamy to pure 

 white, then through earthy, grayish, bluish, or greenish-white to sea-green and every darker 

 shade of green. The 

 markings of the 

 creamy and white va- 

 rieties are generally 

 spots and blotches of 

 different shades of 

 brown, pretty uni- 

 formly dispersed, and 

 eggs t)f this type re- 

 semble those of the 

 Ilazor- billed Auk, 

 but may usually be 

 distinguished by 



larger size (in length) and more pyriform shape. The green eggs are endlessly varied, in 

 pattern of ihe markings, but are normally more streaked in sharp angular zigzag lines, in- 

 extricably confused, reminding one of Cliinese literature. Lomvia troile of former editions 

 of the Key. 



U. t. ealifor'nica. (Fig. 744.) Californian Murre or Guillemot. Farallone Bird. 

 Like the last. Bill somewhat longer, about 1.90; culmen, commissure, and gonys usually less 

 curved ; upju'r mandible somewhat dilated toward base along cutting edges, and less feath- 

 ered ; gonydeal angle prominent. The bill consequently approaches that of lomvia in width 

 and depth, but exaggerates the length and straightness of that of troile. Pacific coast of North 

 America, breeding from islands in Bering's Sea to southern California. Lomvia troile cali- 

 fornica of former editions of the Key. 



U. lom'via. (Faroese name; Icelandic Zaw^jfOTa. Fig. 745.) Brunnich's Murre. Franks' 

 Guillemot. Thick-billed Guillemot. Similar to troile in plumage and its changes, 



but pileum and nape darker and contrasting with 

 brown of throat and sides of head and neck. 

 Form very robust. Bill short, stout, wide, deep; 

 culmen curved throughout ; connnissure decurved 

 at end; gonys if anything concave in outline, the 

 angle very protuberant; cutting edges of upper 

 mandible dilated and denuded toward base, this 

 bare turgid space fiesh-colored in life, drying pale 

 yellowish. Length 18.00; extent 32.00; wing 

 8.50; tarsus L35; culmen 1.40, gape 2.20; gonys 

 O.fKt; depth of bill at angle 0.55, width at base of 

 Yoimg : Plumage rescmblin;; that of winter adults ; 

 Length hardly Iti.OO; extent about 2II.00 ; 



Fio. 745. — Tliick-ljilled GiiiUcmot, nat. hizc. 



nostrils 0.30, at angle of mouth 0.80. 



smaller, with csiiecially smaller and thinner bill 



wing 7.75 ; tail 2.00 ; culmen 1.20 ; gonys 0.63 ; depth of bill 0.42, width 0.27. North Atlantic 



:\m\ Polar sca.«, on the shores and islands, in mvriads; on the American side of the Atlantic 



