ALCID.E — THE AUKS - CEPPIIUS. 



495 



the midiUe and posterior lesser covurt-s, the other, the end of the ^Teater coverts ; the latter patch 

 completely separated from the other for the lower half, heiii'; very narrow near the outer edge of 

 the wint,', hut gradually widening above (where overkill hy the ends of tlie middle coverts^, so 

 as to blenil the two white patches ; under wing-coverts pale smoky grayish. Hill black ; mouth, 

 legs, and feet liright red in life ; claws black ; iris dark brown. U'inkr jdiinUKje : Similar to the 

 same stage of C. fjnjllt', but the white wing-patch divided, as above. Yomuj : Distinguishal)le from 

 tlie corresponding stage of C. (jnjlk by the aUsence of white on the under surface of the wing; 

 otiierwise very similar. Dniniij iioumj: Scarcely distinguishable from tliat of ('. ijnjlle. 



Total length, about 13. (W) inches; extent, 23.(MI ; wing, ().!»(»-7. 30 (average about 7.0()); cul- 

 men, 1.20-1.40; gonys, .53-.GO ; depth of bill through middle of no.stril, .4tK42 ; tarsus, 1.35- 

 1.50; middle toe, without claw, 1.43-1.55. (Si.v .summer adults.) 



This species, closely resemblinjr tlic CejipJnin uri/lli; tliough differing slightly in 

 size and in certain specific markings, replaces that species on the I'acific coast of 

 Xorth America, and on the eastern coast of Asia also. It is cpiite common in the 

 neighborhood of Sitka, where IJischoff obtained twenty specimens. Tt was found 

 abundant at Kadiak, where its eggs were also procured, ilr. J)all did not meet with 

 it abont Unalashka, but it was very common at the .Shumagins. He speaks of it as 

 being a very expert diver, very quick in its motions, iUd very hard to kill. Its eggs 

 were obtained June L'4, 1S72, at Topoff Island, one of the Sliumagins ; they were two 

 in number. The nest was in a burrow or hole inider rocks near the water's edge. 



Several birds of this species were caught alive on their nests at Coal Harbor, 

 Unga. The young in down were also obtained there July 1(>. iSTl*. All the eggs 

 were more or less developed. It is presumed to be a summer visitt)r, yet, like the 

 C. </ri/Nf, it may be to some extent a resident wherever found. In the Aleutian 

 Islands, west of Unalashka, ^h: Dall noticed it as being abundant everywhere from 

 Attn to the Shumagins ; but it was not seen in winter. It is muned by Mr. K. Browne 

 as one of the birds of Vancouver Island. 



Dr. Cooper speaks of this species as being a handsome V)ird, and as one abundant 

 north of California ; but he did not meet with it in siimmer south of Santa Barbara 

 and San Nicolas Island, where ho saw it. but not in large numl)ers. It is more com- 

 mon about the Farallones, and breeds there, hu'ing its eggs in slight Imrrows which 

 are hollowed out among the rocks. The eggs are white, blotched with dark and 

 light brown, cliieHy in a ring ak)ut the larger eiul, and measure in length 2.;")0 inches, 

 in breadth l.GO. 



About the shores of I'uget Sound however — as Dr. Cooper states — this species 

 burrows two or three feet deep in the softer banks, making an entrance where the 

 cliff is steep and overhangs the water, and at a distance of a few feet below the toj), 

 the burrow winding so as to be diflicult to follow. Front this habit the bird has the 

 local name of the l»ank Duck. On the water it swims and dives with so much skill 

 as to make its capture difficult. If swiftly pursued, it sometimes utters a shrill but 

 not loud whistling crj-, not unlike that of the Western Oyster-catcher. Its fliglit is 

 strong and rapid, not unlike that of a I'igeou ; but this is the only point in which it 

 resembles the bird from which it derives its name. It can walk quite ea.sily on the 

 land, and resorts there to rest. When thus perched on the rock, Dr. Cooper has lu ard 

 it utter a low, rather nnisical song, which he at first mistook for that of some spar- 

 row. It is, therefore, like Ffi/roraiiiplius aleiitinis, a kind of aquatic song-bird. At 

 Santa Cruz Dr. Ct)()per fouiul pairs of this species in June on various points of the 

 beach where there are high bluffs of sandstone soft enough for them to burrow in ; 

 and he has no doubt that a few breed as far south as this, if not as far as the southern 

 islands, of win 'i San Nicolas is the only one suited for this purpose. 



Mr. Hensl w is also of the opinion that the Santa Barbara Islands are the 



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