BIRDS OF THE OPEN SEA 6 



crustacean firmly in its beak, and the young tear bits 

 from it with snarling whines, somewhat as a puppy 

 enjoys a bone. 



The young bird dives or is shoved off from the rocks to 

 the water, both parents assisting at the rather startling 

 d^but and, apparently, breaking the force of the fall 

 by flying under the little one. One would expect a bird 

 so uncouth and helpless in walking to be particularly 

 graceful on the water, but this is not the case with the 

 puffins, for they swim in such a horizontal position as 

 to seem even more ungraceful than on land. 



15. RHINOCEROS AUKLET. — Cerorhinca monocerata. 

 Family : The Auks, Murres, and Puffins. 



Length: 15.00. 



Adults: Upper parts uniform grayish black ; sides of head, neck, upper 

 neck, and' sides dull gray; lower breast and belly white, washed with 

 gray ; a row of narrow, pointed white feathers along each side of 

 occiput ; another row from base of bill across cheek to ear. 



Nuptial Plumage: Base of upper mandible surmounted by a compressed 

 upright horn, the base of which clasps the mandible as a saddle, down 

 to and inclosing the nostrils. In winter this is replaced by leathery 

 skin. 



Downy Young : Soft gray-brown. 



Geographical Distribution : Coast and islands of the North Pacific from 

 Behi'ing Sea south to Lower California (resident). 



Breeding Bange : From Washiiigton northward on islands near the coast. 



Breeding Season : Approximately, June 1 to August 20. 



Nest : In crevice or at end of burrow, 2 to 4 feet from entrance, some- 

 times lined with refuse, but oftener bare. 



Eggs: 1 ; chalky white, with faint gray markings. Size 2.70 X 1.82. 



The Rhinoceros Auklet is an odd-looking bird, hav- 

 ing a short chunky body, with head set so close to 

 its -shoulders as to leave no neck at all, and legs so 



