Biological Papers. 251 



Genus Ptychoramphus. 



16. Ptychoramphus aleuticus Pall. Cassin auklet; Cassin's guillemot; 



Aleutian auk. Common island resident. 



Tatoosh island, a few scattering pairs; Carrol islet, 3000; Quillayute 

 Needles, 1000; Alexander island, 2000. Total number, 6000. 



Description: In general description this bird is about the size of a pigeon. 

 It is whitish of color, slightly tinged with blue; bill broader than deep at 

 base; under parts white. Length usually about nine inches. 



This is the gayest and briskest member of the auklet family. It steps 

 nimbly along on its toes when on shore; hides among the rocks. When out 

 at sea it swims and dives with alacrity. Its nesting place is in a natural, 

 obscured cavity in some suitable place among the rocks that have fallen 

 upon the beach of some island. They nest in pairs. The single egg laid is 

 whitish of color, slightly tinged with blue. 



Genus Cyclorrhynchus. 



17. Cyclorrhynchus psittaculus Pall. Paroquet auklet. A migratory visi- 



tant. Rare. 



Description: Bill without knob at base; bill thin, high, dark red in color; 

 lower mandible curved upward; under parts white; rest of body, including 

 throat patch, sooty black; from the lower eyelid of each eye there extends 

 backward over each ear a thin, white crest. 



Genus Simorhynchus. 



20. Simorhynchus pusillus Pall. Least auklet; Little auk; sea dove; dove- 



kie. A rare migratory visitant. 



Description: Bill with knob at base; crests of small, white feathers in 

 front and back of eye; bird small, about the size of a dove; upper parts ap- 

 proaching black; under parts white to mottled or dusky; band of dark-col- 

 ored feathers often across the breast. 



Genus Synthliboramphus. 



21. Synthliboramphus antiquus Gmel. Ancient murrelet; Black-throated 



Guillemot. A migratory visitor. 



Description: This is a very handsome bird. Bill short and small; cutting 

 edge of lower mandible convex; nostrils exposed; tarsus scutellate in front; 

 under parts white; rest of body, head and neck black to slaty; strip of 

 white, tassel-like filaments along back- edge of crown, with sprinklings of 

 same over back of neck; large white patch on each side of neck. 



Genus Brachyramphus. 

 23. Brachyramphus marmoratus Gmel. Marbled murrelet. A numerous 

 summer migrant. This is the most abundant migrant in July and 

 August. 



Description: In general, under parts white; upper parts dusky; upper 

 parts barred with rusty brown; lower parts mottled with sooty brown. 

 Length of bird about 10. 



Genus Ceppus. 

 29. Ceppus columba Pall. Pigeon guillemont. An island resident in sum- 

 mer. Tatoosh island, a few scattering pairs; Carrol islet, 40; 

 Destruction island, dQ; Willoughby Rock, 20; Slit Rock, 12; Gren- 

 ville Arch, 14. A total number of about 122. 



Description: Feet pink in winter, red in summer; bill straight, slender, 

 black; plumage black, except on base of wing, here a white patch incloses 

 a black triangle. Length of bird about 14. 



