530 



THE DIVING BIRDS — PYGOPODES. 



ref^ion. Plumage otherwise as in summer, but pileum darker or blackish brown. Eyelids brown- 

 ish crray, feet pale reddish. Young : Similar in plumage to the winter adult, but bill very different, 

 beinff much narrower, the culmeu not at all arched, and the tenniiuil portion of both maxilla and 

 mandible destitute of any trace of transverse grooves. Downy young: Uniform fuliginous-black 



or dusky, the abdomen abruptly white. 



Total length, about 13.00 inches; extent, 

 24.50; wing, 7.00-7.25 ; culmen (chord), 2.00- 

 2.25; gonys, l.GO-1.70; depth of maxilla at 

 base, 1.15-1.25 ; of mandible, .70-80 ; tarsus, 

 1.15-1.25 ; middle toe, 1.55-1.65. 



Downy young. 



This species is common to the North- 

 ern Pacific Ocean, and is found along 

 the Alaskan coast and on nearly all 

 the islands in Behring's Sea. It also 

 occurs on the eastern shore of Asia, 

 and Avas taken in the Sea of Ochotsk by 

 the naturalists connected with the Eogers Exploring Expedition. 



Mr. Bannister mentions this species as being common on Whale Island, north of 

 St. Michael's. This island is steep and rocky, and landing on it except in very favor- 

 able weather is difficult. Upon the only occasion on which it was visited no nests 

 were discovered, though he is confident that both this species and the Tufted Puffin 

 breed there, young birds scarcely able to fly having been captured. The birds nest in 

 the deep and narrow interstices of the rocks, entirely out of reach ; and even if the nest 

 is within the reach of a man's arm, it would be hazardous to attempt to rob it, except 

 in the absence of the parent bird, whose powerful bill is capable of inflicting a very 

 severe wound. An Eskimo boy in Mr. Bannister's service, not having a pocket, was 

 so careless as to put a nearly grown young Puffin of this species for security under 

 his upper garment, and was severely lacerated by the bird. 



Mr. Dall also speaks of this bird as being extremely abundant on the rocky islands 

 near St. Michael's. It was also observed by him at Plover Bay, Coal Harbor, Unga 

 Island, and Aliaska. It has been obtained at Kotzebue Sound, and was procured 

 abundantly at Sitka and Kadiak by Mr. Bischoff. 



Mr. Dall also states, in his Notes on the Avifauna of the Aleutian Islands from 

 Unalashka eastward, that the F. cornicidata is quite rare on those islands. It is, 

 however, very common in the Shumagin Islands, where it appears to entirely take 

 the place of the Lunda clrrliata. It is resident there throughout the year, and breeds 

 in holes and crevices in the cliffs of Round Island, Coal Harbor, and Unga. The eggs 

 of this species Avere obtained there ; and though the parent bird, Avhich was caught 

 on the nest, managed to escape, they were well identified. The eggs which were then 

 taken were single, one in each nest, and were of a mottled rusty color Avitli dark 

 spots, though he had expected to have found them white. These eggs, as it noAV 

 appears, must have been discolored by the soil on the rock on which they were laid, 

 as the color of the egg when fresh is white. 



To this Mr. Dall adds, in his Notes on the Birds of the Islands Avest of Unalashka, 

 that he there found it resident and abundant from Attn to the Shumagins, and Avith 

 habits similar to those of the L. cirrlmta. 



Mr, H. W. Elliott found this species common in the Prybilof Islands, and states 

 in reference to it, that the eye ncA^er fails to be arrested by this odd-looking bird, 

 Avith its great shovel-like, lemon-yelloAV and red bill, as it sits squatted in glum silence 

 on the rocky cliff-i)erches, regarding approach Avith an air of stolid Avonder, seemingly 



