ALCIDiE — THE AUKS — LUNDA. 



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mouth and naked eyelids, vermilion-red ; iris creamy wliitc, dirty wliite, <ir lijjlit {,'rayisli creiiin- 

 color ; feet vivid sidnion-red (Stkjne(1KU, MS). Adult, in lointvr : Sui)ru-auricular tul'ts waiitin;,' ; 

 basal Hhields of the bill wanting, and replaced by a soft skin of a dusky brown color ; terminal por- 

 tion of the bill exactly as in summer, the {,'rooves varying in distinctness accordiuf^ to aj'e. Otlier- 

 wise exactly as in summer, but feet i)ale, dirty llesh-color (Stejneoeu, MS.). Yoiitig, about stirn 

 vwntlis old : Much like the winter adult, but terminal portion of bill without trace of jjrooves, and 

 of a much duller red or brownish oranye color; distinct supra-auricular tufts of a deep istdic'a- 

 brown or fawn-color, but smaller than in the adult ; plumajre of the lower parts j,'rayish wliite 

 beneath the surface; feet ileshy white, the webs deeper didl llesh-color. Youmj, about jioc or six 

 iiwiiths old (— Haynmtorhina Lathami, l\i\) : Dilferint; from the j)rece(ling in absence of the supm- 

 uuricular tufts and more slender bill. Ihwntj youiuj : Uniform fulij^'iuous-dusky. 



Total length, about 15.(M) inches ; extent, 22.50 ; wing, 7.75 ; culnien, 1.30-1.45 ; nasal shield 

 (on top), l.(.K)-1.10 ; greatest depth of closed bill, 1.75-2.(R) ; tarsus, 1.20-1.35 ; middle toe, 

 1.75-1.90. 



Tlie Tufted Puffin belongs to the Vacitio waters, but is said to be of occasional 

 occurrence on the Atlantic coast. One example is alleged to liave been received from 

 Greenland by I'astor Alosclder in 184G ; and Audubon states that the specimen from 

 which he drew the figure of his representation of this si)ecies was procured near the 

 mouth of the Kennebec, and tliat it had been shot in the winter of 1S;{1-18,'{L' by 

 a tisherman while it was stan<ling on some floating ice. It was a male in adult 

 plumage, and no other example was seen. 



( )n the Tacitic tins species occurs from the latitude of San Francisco northward, 

 and breeds wherever found. It is iiududed by Mr. K. IJrowne in liis List of the llirds 

 of Vancouver Island, ami is said to be found as far north as Fort Simi)son, wlu^ro 

 the Indians trim their dancing leggings with its beaks. So far as Dr. Cooju'r has 

 observed, it seems to be contined to the islands north of the latitude of San Fran- 

 cisco, as he has lU'ver seen or heard of any south of the Farallones, nor has he ever 

 heard of its occurrence along the main shore, although it may be found on some 

 islands very near tlu' land, especially about the Straits of Fuca; and it pi'ihajjs occa- 

 sionally visits tlu! main shore. It seems to be a constant resident wherever it docs 

 inhabit, linding a very uniform climate and abundance of food at all seasons about 

 the islands. 



This bird has in general a striking resemblance to the I'arrot, es])ccially in its 

 heavy, jdump body, its short legs, its rather short and broad wings, its manner of 

 flight, even in its breeding in holes, and the color of its eggs. 



On the Farallones these I'uttins are numerous, and during Dr. Cooper's visit in 

 .luiui he fcmud them laying, having begun alxmt the loth. Their burrows were 

 scratched among the crevices of tiie granite rocks, aiul were so shallow that, iiy pro- 

 tecting the hand so that it would not sutler from a severe bite, both birds and eggs 

 could easily be obtained. He saw no apiu-arance of any nest, the dry earthy bottom 

 of the burrow not recpiiring any. The egg is single, larger than that of the common 

 Hen, wliite, somewhat blotched with i)ale brown, and its ends nearly alike. It meas- 

 ures 2.80 inches in lengtli by 2.00 in breadth. Dr. Cooper never heard this bird utter 

 any sound, although there w(!re several of them jMuclu'd on the rocks very near him 

 during his visit j they seemed to be at rest during nu)st of the day, ami, like all birds 

 with white eyes, somewhat nocturnal in their habits. This Puffin feeds about the 

 rocky shores, swimming and diving well ; and by sonu' is supposed to force off lim- 

 pets and other shells from the rocks with its knife-like bill, though no .shells are 

 fouml in its stomach. These birds eat small tish, and ]ierhaps seaweed also. 



Mr. Itannister states that tlnuigh this bird is by no means scarce in ,sonu' situations 

 at St. Michael's, it is very much less abiunlant tlian iUr ninilrii/ithi. Its tufts are saitl 



