The Pigeon Guillemot 



bird's bill is merely ornamental, since its food comprises chiefly the tiny 

 crustaceans taken in open water. Moreover, certain parts about the base 

 of the bill are deciduous at the end of the breeding season. While our 

 esthetic sense may not exactly approve of the mandibular extravagances 

 which birds of this group indulge at the approach of spring, we should 

 remember the grotesque ear-rings and lip ornaments which have pleased 

 the fancy of our own species at times, and we will not be in haste to 

 criticize the bizarre tastes of these little savages of the sea. Nature may 

 be amusing if she likes. Why not? 



Birds of this and allied species exist in Bering Sea by countless mil- 

 lions, and they form a not unimportant element of Eskimo fare. Hungry 

 whalers also sample them on occasion, but their flesh is not seductive to 

 the Caucasian palate. The Paroquets nest in the abundant crevices of the 

 rough volcanic islands, placing their single white egg upon the bare rock 

 or soil. The males spend most of the day at sea, fishing, but return late 

 in the afternoon to feed their mates. After this and until four or five 

 o'clock in the morning they may be seen dozing at the entrances of their 

 nests. "They have a low, sonorous, vibrating whistle and do not fly in 

 flocks like most other Auks." 



No. 293 



Pigeon Guillemot 



A. O. U. No. 29. Cepphus columba Pallas. 



Synonym. — Sea Pigeon. 



Description. — Adult in summer: General plumage sooty black, glossed with 

 green, pure black on wings and tail; a large white patch on wing, oval in general outline, 

 but interrupted by strong re-entrant wedge of black on distal margin. Bill and claws 

 black, lining of mouth and feet carmine; irides brown. Plumage fading in late summer, 

 color of wings and tail changing to gray, and white wing-patch becoming soiled with 

 brown. Adult in winter: Most of head and neck, rump and underparts white; back 

 and crown black, varied by white edgings; tail and wings black, with patch on latter 

 clear white. Immature: Above chiefly sooty slate; below white, varied by sooty, 

 chiefly in fine vermiculation; traces of wing-patch in outcropping white. Bill black: 

 feet reddish black. Downy young: Sooty black. Bill and feet brownish black. Length 

 of adult: 304.8-375.9 (12.00-14.80); average of 10 Monterey specimens: wing 182.9 

 (7.20): tail 50.8 (2.00); bill 33.2 (1.31); tarsus 35.1 (1.38). 



Recognition Marks. — Teal size; dusky appearance; solid black with white wing- 

 patch of ordinary plumage unmistakable; a strange pied gray bird in winter. 



Nesting. — Eggs: 2, subelliptical; white, yellowish white, greenish white (pale 

 glaucous) or, rarely, pale olive-buff, boldly and handsomely spotted or blotched with 



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