47 



Nesting. In large colonies amongst rocks, making no nest and laying only a single 



egg- 



Distribution. Abundant along the eastern sea-coast, never or rarely ever being found 

 in the interior on fresh water. 



SUBSPECIES. The Common Murre inhabits the northern parts of the Pacific and 

 Atlantic oceans, being represented by different subspecies in each. The Atlantic Murre 

 is the type form and is, of course, the one that occurs on our eastern coasts. 



The number of Murres that will occupy a nesting ledge is sometimes 

 remarkable. At the edge of the rocky shelves they gather as close as they 

 can stand, like files of soldiers, bearing strong resemblance to the lines 

 of penguins that are familiar to us in pictures. 



31. Thick-billed Guillemot, pb. — le guillemot de brunnich. Uria lomvia. 

 L, 16-50. This Murre is almost exactly similar to the preceding species. 



Distinctions. Head and neck are darker and richer brown without the smokiness of 

 the Common Murre and the neck is somewhat darker behind than in front. Bill is some- 

 what larger and noticeably shorter and thicker than that of the Common Murre. 



Field Marks. Shorter, thicker bill, and coloration of the head and neck will, under 

 exceptional visual conditions, separate this bird in life from the Common Murre. Sharp 

 and tapering instead of blunt and deep bill, and tail not turned up in swimming, should 

 serve to distinguish it from the Razor-billed Auk. 



Nesting. Similar to the preceding species. 



Distribution. Somewhat more northern than that of the Common Murre. 



SUBSPECIES. The Thick-billed Guillemot occurs in the northern Pacific and Atlan- 

 tic oceans but as distinct subspecies. Our eastern form is the type and is known as Briin- 

 nich's Murre. 



Briinnich's Murre is the only member of this family that is found on 

 the Great Lakes. The birds have at times come in hundreds to lakes 

 Ontario, Erie, and tributary waters in late autumn and early winter, 

 all in a starving condition, and none seemed to survive or return to their 

 sea homes. These occurrences are as yet unexplained. 



Genus — Alca. Auks. 



32. Razor-billed Auk. tinker, fr. — le pingotjin commun. Alca tarda. L, 

 16 ■ 50. The Razor-billed Auk is of the same general appearance as the last two species. 



Distinctions. Bill is considerably deepened and flattened (though not nearly as much 

 so as in the Puffin); it is thus easily distinguished from the Murre especially in summer 

 when a white line connects the eye and the base of the culmen, and the bill is crossed by 

 a white band near the tip. Bill of the winter juvenile is less characteristic but may still 

 be distinguished from that of the Murres. 



Field Marks. Deepened bill and, when swimming, cocked-up tail make good field 

 marks. 



Nesting. Similar to that of the two preceding species but rather less gregarious. 

 Distribution. Frequents our Atlantic coasts north to the Arctic. 



Genus — Plautus. Great Auk. 



33. Great Auk. gare-fowl. fr. — le grand pingotjin. Plautus impennis. L, 30. 

 The Great Auk was the largest of the American Divers. Its wings were so reduced in 

 size that though they made excellent swimming organs they were useless for other purposes 

 and hence the bird was unable to fly. As the species is now extinct no further description 

 is necessary. 



This bird had become so well adapted to an aquatic life that flying 

 was no longer necessary and consequently its wings became reduced to 

 mere swimming nippers like those of the penguins of the Antarctic, and 



