ALCA TOKDA.^ 497 



ably common, especially during migrations, throughout our section. They winter from the 

 Garotinas, southward, but are particularly common in Florida at this season, where, per- 

 haps, a few remain to breed. As do all the members of the family, the Pied-billed Grebe 

 places its nest on a mass of floating debris in some quiet, reedy cove of a pond or river, 

 depositing the eggs early in June. The young follow their parents as soon as hatched and 

 are cared for by them with great assiduity. All the Grebes possess the power of inflat- 

 ing the space between the skin and body, and thus they can ride lightly on the water, or 

 by contracting the skin and feathers, are enabled to sink slowly beneath the surface, often 

 'swimming with only the head exposed; or they will remain hidden in the reeds, with the 

 bill alone projecting. This Grebe migrates with the other species in September and October. 



FAMILY I. ALCID.E. THE AUKS, PUFFINS, ETC. 



Bill, usually short and more or less compressed. Legs, short, with toes fully webbed. 

 Members of this family have the neck quite short. The legs are placed far back in the 

 body, yet the birds can generally stand in a perpendicular position with ease. Sternum, 

 long and narrow, with two marginal indentations. The outer covering of the bill is moult- 

 ed in some species. The young are covered with down at birth but do not enter the wa- 

 ter until fully fledged, being fed by the parents by regurgitation. 



GENUS I. ALGA. THE AUKS. 



(EN. Cu. Bill, shorter than Head, feathered at bate, compressed , but not as hiyh as long. The bill is ridged transvereo- 

 ly. There is but one species within our limits. 



ALCA TORDA. 



Razor-billed Auk. 



Alca torda LI.NN., Syst. Nat., 1; 1766, 210. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si*. Cn. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. COLOR. Adult. Head, upper neck, and upper piirtH, sooty-brown, 

 lightest anteriorly. Very Harrow line from bill to eye, tip of secondaries, and beneath, white. Iris and feet, brown, bill, 

 K-ick, crossed with a curved line of white. In winter. Similar, but white beneath to bill. Youny, .similar to the winter 

 adult, but with hill weaker. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the peculiar bill and white line in front of eye. Distributed, in summer, from Maine, northward; winter- 

 ing from Massachusetts to Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 17 00; stretch, 26'flO; wing, 7-65; tail, 3-35; bill, 

 T-15; tarsus, T15. Longest specimen, 18-00; greatest extent of wing, 27'00; longest wing, 7'75: tail, 3-50; hill, 1'30; tarsus, 

 1 via. Shortest specimen, 15'00; smallest extent of wing, 25'00; shortest wing, 7'20; tail, 3'25; bill, 1'40; tarsus, TOO. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Eyyf, placed in holes of clifts. one or two in number, rather oval in form, white in color, spotted and blotched with 

 very dark-brown and umber. Dimensions from <HOx3 - 10 to 2'15x3'15. 



II A KITS. 



The southernmost locality from which I have ever received eggs of the Razor-billed 

 Auk, is a cluster of rocks, about twenty miles from Grand Menan, but the favorite breed- 

 ing ground of the species, is further north, and I found them very abundant on the Mag- 

 dalen Islands. Here, they place their eggs in holes of rocky cliffs or beneath slabs on the 

 surface. On Bird Rock, where the Razor-bills abound, they were quite tame, allowing 

 me to approach within a few feet of them as they sat on the rocks, but they always managed 

 to elude my grasp, even when incubating, and each bird usually deposits but one <, 

 though I have occasionally found tsvo. 



