-—-!— ! - — -———-i-;—!—!- 
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 
1 st 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 
