46 



Nesting. Breed in the crannies and cracks of rocky cliffs or burrow in the soil on 

 lonely islets. Alone the Labrador coast there are several "Paroquet" islands, so-called 

 from the great numbers of these birds breeding on them. However, the depredations of 

 fishermen have sadly reduced their numbers and unless protective steps are taken they 

 will shortly be exterminated. 



Distribution. Puffins are distributed over the sea-coast on both sides of the Atlantic 

 from Canada and England northward far into the Arctic zone. 



A sight of this bird is sufficient for recognition of the appropriateness 

 of the names Parrot or Paroquet. Unlike other Divers it stands up on 

 its toes and is quite agile afoot. 



Subfamily — Mthiinx. Auklets. Murrelets, Guillemots. 



Genus — Cepphus. Sea Pigeons. 



27. Black Guillemot, pigeon, sea pigeon, fr. — le guillemot noir. le pigeon 

 be mer. Cepphus grylle. L, 13. In summer the Black Guillemot is a small, coal-black 

 Diver with large white wing-patches and red feet. In winter the underparts are white and 

 the feathers above are black but broadly tipped with white. The wings remain as in 

 summer. 



Distinctions. In summer the species cannot be mistaken for any other. In winter, 

 the size and wing coloration are almost equally distinctive. 



Field Marks. The characters above make easily recognizable field marks. 



Nesting. In cavities in the rocks or in openings in the rough talus at the foot of sea- 

 cliffs. 



Distribution. The Atlantic Guillemot is common along our Atlantic coast but is 

 rarely if ever seen inland. 



SUBSPECIES. There are two subspecies of the Black Guillemot in Canada, the 

 Atlantic Guillemot, the type form, and Mandt's Guillemot Cepphus grylle mandti, a 

 northern race inhabiting Arctic regions and distinguished by having all the wing-coverts 

 white to the base instead of with a concealed dark wing-bar. This form is given by the 

 American Ornithologists' Union check-list as a full species, but should probably be reduced 

 to subspecific status. 



The Black Guillemot is one of the commonest inhabitants of our sea- 

 coast and is known to nearly all who visit there. It is less gregarious than 

 the other members of the family and usually nests alone and not in rookeries, 

 though sometimes numbers are drawn together in localities by a community 

 of interest. 



Subfamily — Alcinae. Auks and Murres. 



Genus — Uria . Murres . 



30. Common Murre. fr. — le guillemot ordinaire, la mormette. la marmette. 

 Uria troille. L, 16. The Murre in summer is white below, with the head and neck dark, 

 smoky, seal-brown. The back and wings are black. In winter the throat is light, veiled 

 with more or less greyish, and the brown is replaced on the head and neck with black more 

 or less shaded with grey especially on the throat. 



Distinctions. The Common Murre is very much like Brunnich's Murre and the Razor- 

 billed Auk. Can be differentiated in summer from the former by the lighter brown colora- 

 tion of the head and neck and by the fact that the back of the neck is not darker than the 

 front. At all seasons it has a somewhat longer and more slender bill than that of the 

 Brunnich's Murre. From the Auk it can be told by its bill which is not markedly flattened 

 or deepened. 



Field Marks. Bill sizes and neck coloration are the only field marks that can be given 

 to separate the two Murres and in life these can be seen only under the most favourable 

 circumstances. The birds are said to swim with level instead of up-turned tail as does the 

 Razor-bill. The difference between the latter's bill and that of the Murre, however, is 

 quite obvious under ordinary conditions. 



