The Cassin Auklet 



aperture, retreat, niche, 

 cave, receptacle, or hidey- 

 hole, from the water's edge 

 to the summit of the light- 

 tower which is not likely 

 to harbor this ubiquitous 

 bird. The interstices of 

 all stone walls harbor them 

 by the score. Every cav- 

 ity not definitely occupied 

 by puffin, petrel, or rabbit, 

 is tenanted by an auklet, 

 and in some cases quarters 

 are shared. If one's im- 

 agination is not sufficiently 

 stimulated by regular oc- 

 currences, it will be jogged 

 by appearances in unex- 

 pected places, — an old nest 

 of Rock Wren or Pigeon 

 Guillemot, an inner recess 

 of a murre cave, an aban- 

 doned spur of a puffin bur- 

 row, an overturned wheel- 

 barrow, or a neglected 

 board lying on the ground, 

 driftwood on the beach — 

 anything affording the 

 slightest prospect of pro- 

 tection or cover. A pile 

 of coal, sacked up and 

 awaiting transfer from 

 landing to siren, was found 

 to be full of them. Since this was the rule, from center to circumference 

 of this magic isle, we concluded that the Cassin Auklet is the commonest 

 bird in the Farallons; and estimates of population anywhere short of one 

 or two hundred thousand do not take account of the facts. 



Cassin Auklets are rather early nesters. They begin to haul out in 

 February on Los Coronados, and fresh eggs, according to Howell, may be 

 looked for at that station by the end of March. On the Farallons May 

 1st would be a better date; and on the islands off the Del Norte coast 

 June 1st will suffice for at least a third of their number. 



Taken on Los Coronados Islands, L. C. 



EGG OF CASSIN AUKLET, 



Photo by Donald R. Dickey 

 IN SITU 



1472 



