BIRDS OF THE OPEN SEA 5 
crustacean firmly in its beak, and the young tear bits 
from it with snarling whines, somewhat as a puppy 
enjoys a bone. 
The young bird dives or is shoved off from the rocks to 
the water, both parents assisting at the rather startling 
début and, apparently, breaking the force of the fall 
by flying under the little one. One would expect a bird 
so uncouth and helpless in walking to be particularly 
graceful on the water, but this is not the case with the 
puffins, for they swim in such a horizontal position as 
to seem even more ungraceful than on land. 
15. RHINOCEROS AUKLET. — Cerorhinca monocerata. 
Famity : The Auks, Murres, and Puffins. 
Length : 15.00. 
Adults: Upper parts uniform grayish black ; sides of head, neck, upper 
neck, and sides dull gray ; lower breast and belly white, washed with 
gray ; a row of narrow, pointed white feathers along each side of 
occiput ; another row from base of bill across cheek to ear. 
Nuptial Plumage: Base of upper mandible surmounted by a compressed 
upright horn, the base of which clasps the mandible as a saddle, down 
to and inclosing the nostrils. In winter this is replaced by leathery 
skin. 
Downy Young: Soft gray-brown. 
Geographical Distribution : Coast and islands of the North Pacific from 
Behring Sea south to Lower California (resident). 
Breeding Range: From Washington northward on islands near the coast. 
Breeding Season : Approximately, June 1 to August 20. 
Nest: In crevice or at end of burrow, 2 to 4 feet from entrance, some- 
times lined with refuse, but oftener bare. 
Eggs: 1; chalky white, with faint gray markings. Size 2.70 & 1.82. 
Tue Rhinoceros Auklet is an odd-looking bird, hav- 
ing a short chunky body, with head set so close to 
its shoulders as to leave no neck at all, and legs so 
