270 WEAK-WINGED DIVING BIRDS 



and white, and placed at the end of its burrow. Of course 

 all these birds dive and swim well. 



The Tufted Puffin 1 is the most widely distributed 

 member of this genus, being found from southern California 

 all the way up the Pacific coast to Alaska, Bering Strait, 

 Siberia and on down to Japan. It is (or at least was) abun- 

 dantly represented on the Farallone Islands from April to 

 July, when they breed there. 



This species is instantly distinguishable by its black plu- 

 mage, its big, triangular bill colored bright red and olive-green, 

 white eye and white triangular cheek-patch. In the breeding- 

 season a beautiful flowing tuft of soft, yellow feathers, thick 

 as a lead-pencil, comes forth just behind the eye, and flows 

 backward and downward in a graceful curve. 



On the Atlantic side, from Maine to Greenland, and also 

 from Great Britain to North Cape, lives the Common Puffin, 2 

 or "Sea Parrot." Of this bird, the whole side of the head, 

 and the breast and abdomen are white, the remainder of 

 the plumage being deep black. Wherever found, it is one 

 of the most interesting birds to be met with near the sea, and 

 its comical appearance, queer movements and fierce temper 

 when disturbed never fail to amuse the observer. 



The Auks and Auklets are really birds of the cold 

 northern waters; but on the Pacific side there are four species 

 which touch the coast of the United States, and two of them 

 even push their way down to Lower California. These birds 

 are much like puffins with rational beaks, and I believe all 



1 Lun'da cir-ra'ta. Length, 15 inches. 



2 Fra-ter'cu-la arc'ti-ca. Length, 13 inches. 



