BIRDS OF THE OPEN SEA 1 



Nest : In crevices of rocks, under edge of boulders, or in shallow burrow ; 

 unlined. 

 >•: 1 ; greenish white. Size 1.81 X 1.33. 



Like the rhinoceros auklet, Cassin's Auklet is noc- 

 turnal in habit, hiding in its burrow by day and coming 

 out in the twilight to feed and fly. Both species are 

 expert swimmers and divers, obtaining in this manner 

 the crustacea which form their chief diet. On stormy 

 nights they may be heard calling to each other above the 

 thunder of the surf and the fury of the gale. On clear 

 or moonlight nights they flit like huge beetles over the 

 shore, with continual high-keyed notes. With the screams 

 of the gulls by day and the calls of the auklets by night, 

 the rocky islands of the Pacific coast are never silent. 



The Cassin Auklets are resident in small numbers off 

 the coast of Southern California and on the islands of 

 Santa Catalina, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz, breeding 

 locally northward along their range. On the Farallones 

 they breed in great numbers, and are. also found nesting 

 abundantly on the Netarte Islands and along the rocky 

 coast of British Columbia. Each pair will usually raise 

 three broods, of a single bird each, every season. The 

 young remain in the nest until fully feathered, when they 

 are able to fly, swim, and dive with the ease of adult birds. 



21. ANCIENT MURRELET.— Synlhliboramphus antiquvs. 

 Family : The Auks, Murres, and Puffins. 



Length: 10.00. 



Breeding Plumage: Head and throat black; sides of neck, line on each 

 side of crown to nape, white ; upper back gray, streaked laterally 

 with white ; back, wings, and tail brownish gray, blackish on prima- 

 ries ; sides sooty brown ; breast and belly white. 



