Range.– Coast and islands of the northern Pacific. Breeds from Oregon to northern Alaska.
CASSIN AUKLET
A plain appearing bird, breast and throat grayish and belly white with blackish upper-parts relieved only by a small white spot over the eye. This Auklet is fairly abundant on the Farallones and islands off the Lower California coast.
Nest.– A single egg, dull white, the inside of the shell being a pale green when held to the light. These are laid in burrows or tunnels under the rocks, at times three or four feet long (1.80 × 1.30).
Range.– Pacific coast of N. A., Alaska to Lower California.
PAROQUET AUKLET
This bird is much like Cassin Auklet, but lacking the white spot over the eye and having a white breast. The bill is very peculiar, being quite deep and rounded and having an upward tendency. It is orange red in color.
Range.– The Alaskan coast, usually farther south in winter. Nesting in the Aleutian Islands, a single white egg is laid (2.25 × 1.40).
WHISKERED AUKLET
Breeds quite abundantly on some of the Aleutian Islands. The single white egg is laid in burrows or crevices of the rocks (2.00 × 1.25).
CRESTED AUKLET
Similar in form and plumage to the Paroquet Auklet, except the whole under parts are gray.
Nest and Range.– On the islands and main land of the Alaskan coast, laying only one chalky white egg in crevices or burrows under the rocks.
LEAST AUKLET
This is the smallest of the Auklets, and in habits are the same as others of the same family. They are one of the most abundant of the water birds of the extreme Northwest.
Nest.– Only one single white egg is laid upon the bare rocks or in crevices, on the islands of the Alaskan coast (1.50 × 1.10).
ANCIENT MURRELET
The Murrelets have no crests or plumes and the bills are more slender than the Auklets and are not highly colored.
Nest.– One or two eggs are laid either in burrows or crevices of the rocks, buffy white in color, with faint markings of light brown.
Range.– Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska, breeding north of the United States.
MARBLED MURRELET
Nesting habits and eggs are similar to the Ancient Murrelet (2.20 × 1.40) and range is same as above, possibly breeding a little farther south.
XANTHUS MURRELET
This bird is a dull black above, and entirely white below, including the sides of the head below the eye. The under-surface of the wing is also white.
Nest.– The single egg is laid at the end of burrows or under the rocks in dark places similar to the other Murrelets. It is a pale buffy white, and thickly but finely dotted with brown over the entire surface, heaviest on the larger end (2.05 × 1.40).
Range.– Resident along the coast of southern and Lower California, where it breeds on many of the islands.
PIGEON GUILLEMOT
This bird is very similar to the Black Guillemot except that the under-surfaces of the wings are dark. The nearly straight and slender bill is black, feathered to the upper edge of nostrils. Feet and inside of mouth bright red.
Nest.– Their two eggs are laid on the bare rocks in dark places under the rocks, are pale blue or green in color with black or brown markings and paler spots of lilac.
Range.– Pacific coast of North America.
CALIFORNIA MURRE
This is one of the most abundant birds breeding on the Farallones. Large numbers of their eggs are taken yearly to the San Francisco and other market places and disposed of as a food product, and as yet the birds do not seem to diminish to any great extent.
Nest.– But a single white egg is laid on the bare ledges. They vary greatly in color, from nearly white without markings to a deep greenish blue with an endless variety of patterns in light and dark brown (3.40 × 2.00).
Range.– Pacific coast, breeding from the Farallones north to Alaska.
POMARINE JAEGER
These birds are slender and graceful in form and flight, but are the real pirates of bird life, especially among the terns and gulls. This species has two color phases regardless of sex or age. In the light plumage the top of the head is black, rest of the bird brownish. Easily identified by the lengthened central tail-feathers.
Nest.– Two olive brown eggs spotted with black (2.20 × 1.70).
PARASITIC JAEGER
This bird has the two phases of color similar to the last. The two central tail-feathers are longer and more pointed, projecting about four inches beyond the others. All of the Jaegers have grayish blue legs with black feet, and brown eyes.
Nest.– A slight hollow in the marshy ground in which the two brownish eggs are laid (2.15 × 1.65).
Range.– Northern part of North America, south in winter to southern California, breeding in the Arctic regions.
LONG-TAILED JAEGER
This is the most swift and graceful of this family in flight. Similar to the last species, but the central pointed tail-feathers extend eight or ten inches beyond the others. It is more often found in the lighter phase.
Nest.– Their eggs are either laid on the bare ground or in a slight depression, scantily lined with grass (2.10 × 1.50).
Range.– Arctic America; south in winter to South America.
GULLS AND TERNS – Family Laridæ
IVORY GULL
The little Snow Gull, as it is often called, in the breeding season is entirely white; the bill is tipped with yellow and there is a red ring about the eye.
Nest.– Of grasses and seaweed, on the cliffs in the Arctic regions. Three grayish buff eggs are laid marked with brown and black (2.30 × 1.70).
Range.– North of the Arctic Circle, and winters south to British Columbia.
PACIFIC KITTIWAKE
These birds breed in immense rookeries on some of the islands in the Bering Sea.
Nest.– On