8 PYGOPODES: Diving Birds 



RHINOCEROS AUKLET 



(15. Cerorhinca monocerata) 14 in. 



Blackish upper parts; throat gray, whitening on belly; a tuft 

 of slender white plumes above and below eye (usually absent in 

 winter) . 



With approach of the breeding-season a flattened process, 

 suggesting the horn of a rhinoceros, grows upward on basal half 

 of bill. This is lost in the summer plumage moult. 



This species is especially noted for its diving ability, feeding 

 by habit in deep water. 



CASSIN AUKLET 



(16. Ptychoramphus aleuticus) 9 in. 



A small, chunky diving bird, slaty-black above, lighter be- 

 low, and with white belly; a round white spot just over eye. Bill 

 short and thick. 



Disaster, possibly from disease, sometimes overtakes these 

 birds, when considerable numbers are washed ashore. Such an 

 occurrence was noted in January, 1914, at Long Beach, Cali- 

 fornia, where nearly four hundred dead or dying Auklets were 

 cast up by the waves. 



ANCIENT MURRELET 



(21. Synthliboramphus antiquus) 10 in. 



Summer: Back and wings slaty gray; head and throat black, 

 with white above and behind eye, and white of lower parts ex- 

 tending on sides of neck to cheek. 



Winter: Top of head black; cheeks and chin slaty, otherwise 

 under parts white. White breast and fore-neck distinguishes 

 this from the Cassin Auklet, while slaty of back distinguishes 

 from Xantus Murrelet. 



