24 



NESTS AND EGGS OF 



33. Great Auk (From Brehm . 



34. DOVEKIE. Alle alle (Linn.) Geog. Dist. — Coasts and islands of the North 

 Atlantic and Eastern Arctic Ocean; in North America, south in winter to New 

 Jersey; breeds in high northern latitudes. 



The little Ice-bird of the fishermen and the Sea Dove of ornithologists. Its entire 

 life is spent on the open sea, rarely visiting land except during the breeding season 

 or when driven thence by severe storms. It breeds in the Arctic regions of America 

 r.niT. Europe, the islands of the Arctic Ocean, and in the northwestern portion of Asia. 

 Tlo head and bill of this bird are formed almost exactly like that of a quail. It is 

 Tery abundant at its breeding grounds in the far north, and is one of the most boreal 

 of birds; nesting chiefly on islands, or always in places near the sea, depositing its 

 single pale, greenish-blue egg in the crevices of rocky cliffs. The eggs measure from 

 1.80 to 1.90 in length by 1.25 to 1.30 in breadth. 



35. SKTJA. Megalestris skua (Brunn.) Geog. Dist. — Coasts and Inlands of the 

 North Atlantic. South to Spain and Massachusetts. Rare on the coast of North 

 America. 



