Auks, Murres, Puffins 



Briinnich's murre only by its bill, which is half an inch longer. 

 Some specimens show a white ring or "eye-glass" around the 

 eye and a white stripe behind it; but doubt exists as to whether 

 such specimens are not a separate species. Much study has still 

 to be given to this group of birds before the differences of opin- 

 ion held by the leading ornithologists concerning them will be 

 settled satisfactorily to all. The habits of the three murres men- 

 tioned here are identical so far as they are known. Penguin and 

 foolish guillemot are titles sometimes given to the common 

 murre; but to add to popular confusion, they are just as frequently 

 applied to Briinnich's murre. 



The Californian murre, the Western representative of these 

 species, differs from them neither in plumage nor habits, it is said. 

 It breeds abundantly from Behring's Sea to California, and the na- 

 tives of Alaska depend upon its eggs for food. They were 

 among the first dainties sold to the Klondike miners. 



Razor-billed Auk 



(Alca torda) 



Called also : TINKER 



Length 16.50 inches. 



Male and Female In summer : Upper parts sooty black; browner 

 on fore neck. A conspicuous white line from eye to bill; 

 breast, narrow line on wing, wing-linings, and underneath, 

 white. Bill, which is about as long as head, and black, has 

 horny shield on tip and is crossed by sunken white band. 

 Tail upturned. In winter : Similar to summer plumage, ex- 

 cept that it is duller and the sides and front of neck are 

 white. Bill lacks horny shield. White line on bill, sometimes 

 lacking on winter birds and always on immature specimens. 



Range "Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic; south in win- 

 ter on the North American coast, casually to North Carolina. 

 Breeding from Eastern Maine northward." A. O. U. 



Season Winter visitor. 



Audubon, who followed these birds to their nesting haunts 

 in Labrador and the Bay of Fundy, found the bodies of thousands 

 strewn on the shores, where, after their eggs had been taken by 

 boat loads for food, and the fine, warm feathers of their breasts 



23 



