38 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



still fewer eggs are extant. A skin is worth about $1,500 while 

 an egg finds plenty of purchasers at $900. The egg is very 

 similar in color and markings to that of the Razor-billed Auk 

 but much larger in size, measuring 4.69 x 2.92. Only a single 

 egg was laid. 



Subfamily ALLIN^. Dovekies. 

 Genus ALLE Link. 



34. Alle alle (Linn,). Dovekie; Sea Dove; Ice Bird. 



Plumage in summer adults: above black, browner on neck and upper 

 breast ; lower breast and belly white ; scapulars white streaked ; secondaries 

 white-tipped ; flanks dusky streaked. Winter adult plumage : neck and upper 

 breast white, feathers of latter dusky at base only. Immature : colors duller 

 and bill slightly smaller and weaker. Downy young : ^ooty slate, paler below, 

 (Ridgway). Wing 4.50 to 4.65; culmen 0.50; tarsus 0.65. 



Geog. Dist. — Coast and islands of the North Atlantic and adjoining Arctic 

 Oceans, breeding in far northern latitudes ; in winter south on American 

 coast to New Jersey and accidental in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 



County Records. — Cumberland; rather irregular winter visitor, (Brown, 

 C. B. P. p. 36) ; one reported inland near Westbrook by Mr. Norton, and one 

 at Cape Elizabeth by Mr. Brownson. Hancock ; winter visitor down the bay, 

 (Knight). Kennebec ; one killed itself by flying against the ice at Gardiner, 

 (Powers, J. M. 0. S. 1905, p. 29). Knox; winter visitor, (Rackliff). Penob- 

 scot ; occasionally taken in the vicinity of Bangor after severe winter storms, 

 (Knight). Sagadahoc; in winter, not plenty, (Spinney). Waldo; rare win- 

 ter visitor, (Knight). Washington; in winter only, (Boardman). 



The Dovekie is exclusively a winter bird, occurring generally 

 among the outer islands of the coast, though by no means 

 common, and likely to be reported inland in almost any section 

 of the State after severe storms. They usually occur from late 

 November until mid March. In Arctic regions they are said 

 to nest on shelves of rock or in crevices of rocky cliffs on islands 

 or along shores fronting the sea. A single pale greenish blue 

 or bluish white egg is stated to be laid which measures about 

 1.85 X 1.28 according to the various authorities. The food 

 consists of surface swimming marine life and small fish. 



