NORTB AMERICAN BIRDS. 13 



nest cavities are lineu with grass, moss, etc.> ^A single egg is laid, whlcb is oblons- 

 OTal in shape, pure white in color and- the shell is rough, measuring 2.74x1.84. 



15. BHINOCEBOS AUKLET. Cerrohitica-'mmocerata (Pall.) Geog. Dist— 

 Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from' Lo^er California (resident) to Japan. 



On the islands of the Pacific coast, fromyWashlngton northward, the Horned- 

 billed Auk is said to breed, and was thought to breed on islands farther south. It 

 is nocturnal iu its habits, remaining throughout the daytime in crevices among the 

 rocks and burrows in the ground, where it deposits its single egg. This is Similar 

 to the egg of the Horned Puffin — dull, chalky white, with discolorations and faint 

 shell markings of obscure purplish-gray. Sizes range from 2.65 to 2.90 long and by 

 1,80 to 1.90 broad. Mr. Ridgway gives the size as 2.70x1.82. 



16. CASSIN'S ATJKIiET. Ptychoramphus aleuticus (Pall.) Geog. Dist. — Pa- 

 cific Goast of North America, from the Aleutian Islands to San Diego, breeding south- 

 ward to the Farallons. 



Mr. Emerson found this species abundant on the Farallons. It is nocturnal in 

 its habits, fiying and roving about during foggy, stormy or moonlight nights, but 

 never at dusk. After dusk, howeve^, they come out of their holes in the rocks all 

 over the island, and can be heard calling to one another their peculiar notes, chee- 

 rie-Jcee, chce-ric-kee. Mr. Taylor says: "Some observer has stated that Cassin's 

 Auklet on the islands does not burrow. This is a mistake. Many of the Auklets lay 

 their eggs in holes in soft earth in places where it can be found."* Mr. C; Barlow 

 remarks that the Tufted Puffin and Cassin's Auklet are somewhat similar in their 

 manner of nesting, and both species are usually found in the same locality, although 

 the Auklet nests in all situations about the island.f Any convenient crevice or 

 hole in a pile of rocks which affords a hiding place suits this species for the purpose 

 of depositing its single egg. Mr.- Bryant, in his paper, "Birds and Eggs from the 

 Farallon Islands," says that this Auk arrives early in the year, coming in great 

 numbers in the night of January 14, 1887. Two and three young are supposed to be 

 reared in a season. Young birds in the down have been taken in September. Con- 

 sidering the size of this species, it lays a very large egg. The bird measures eight 

 ^to nine and a half Inches in length, or about the size of a full-grown Woodcock, while 

 its egg averages 2.25x1.47. At first appearance the egg seems to be white, but upon 

 holding it to the light it is a delicate shade of emerald .green. The shell is finely 

 granulated, and the general shape of the egg is ovate,' some more, pointed, than 

 others. Two extreme examples measure as follows:, l/.97xl'.42, 1.65x1.22.; There is a 

 series of ninety-four eggs in the oological collection .6! Mr. C.W. Crahddll, all taken 

 on South Farallon Island. The smallest of these njeasures 1.63x1.27, the largest 

 1.98x1.32, average size 1.81x1.33. , • ' 



17. PABOQTJET AUKLET. . CyclorrUynclius psittaculus (Pall.). Geog. Dist— 

 Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from the Aleutian and Kurile Islands north- 

 ward. 



• "A Trip to the Farallons," by H. R. Taylor, Vol. I, pp. 17-19, of The Nldologlst, an 

 Illustrated Monthly Magazine devoted to the study of Ornithology with special reference 

 to the NIdlflcation of .North Aroerloan Birds. H. R. Taylor editor and publisher. As- 

 sociated wtth Dr. R. W. Shufeldt. Office: Alameda, Cal. . 



t An Ornithological Paradise. Some observations gleaned from a sojourn in the 

 famous Farallon Islands. By'C. Barlow, Santa Clara, Cal.; In The Museum, a Journal de- 

 voted exclusively to research In Natural Science. Published by Walter F. Webb, Albion, 

 N. Y., Vol. I, pp. 38-44. 



