DIVING BIRDS 



31a. Pallas iluRHE, Uria loinvia arra. 



Range. — The Pacific coasts and islands. 



This is the Pacific form of Brunnich Murre. Its breeding range is more 

 northerly than tliat of the California variety. Countless thousands of them 

 breed on the islands off the coast of Alaska, tlieir breeding habits and eggs 

 being the same as the more southern form. 



32. Razor-billed Auk. Alca torda. 



Range. — North Atlantic coast, breeding from Bird Rocli northward and 

 wintering south to the Middle States on the coast. 



Gra\'isli "^vliite 



The Razor-billed Auk is in form similar to the Murres, but the bill is very 

 different, being deep and thin, and with the upper mandible rounded at the 

 tip. Entire upper parts black shading to brownisli on the throat. Under parts 

 and tips of secondaries, white; line from eye to bill and another across the 

 middle of the bill, wliite. They nest in large numbers on Bird Rock in com- 

 pany with the Murres and in still greater numbers off the coast of Labrador. 

 Their eggs are not placed in as exposed positions as the Murres, being gen- 

 erally behind boulders or in crevices. This is necessary because, not being 

 of the pear-shaped form of tlie Murres, tliey would be verj' apt to be dislodged 

 if commonly placed on the narrow ledges. The eggs vary endlessly in mark- 

 ing but do not show the differences in ground color that the Murres do. The 

 color is white, grayisli or huffy. But one egg is generally laid, althougli two 

 are sometimes found. Siae .3.00 x 2.00. Data. — Bay of PUndy. .June 17, 1891. 

 Single egg laid on bare rock in a crevice under loose rocks. Collector, A. C. 

 Bent, 



.31 



