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Range (Coasts and islands)
"Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and eastern Arctic Oceans" (A. O. U.). Breeds from the Magdalen Islands northward; in winter migrates as far south as New Jersey. Long Island, irregular W. V. Sing Sing, A. V.
Nests in communities, side by side on the bare ledges of rocky cliffs. Egg, one, not distinguishable from that of U. troile. "During the winter it lives on the open sea, and in the breeding season assembles in large flocks on bold cliffs and rocky headlands. It is an expert diver, using wings and feet to get under water and to swim through it" (Chamberlain). 32. Alca torda Linn. RAZOR-BILLED AUK; TINKER. Ad. in summer.-Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black; foreneck somewhat browner; tips of the secondaries, a line from the eye to the bill, breast, and belly white; bill black, crossed by a white band. Ad. in winter.-Similar to ad. in the summer, but with the sides and front of the neck white. Im.-Similar to ad. in winter, but with the bill smaller and without the white bar. L., 16.50; W., 7.90; Tar., 1·35; B., 1.25.
Range." Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic" (A. O. U.). Breeds from the Magdalen Islands northward; in winter migrates southward regularly to Long Island and rarely to Virginia and North Carolina. Long Island, irregular W. V.
Nest, in the crevices and fissures of cliffs and rocky places. Eggs, one to two, pale bluish white or buffy, thickly spotted and speckled with chocolate markings most numerous and sometimes confluent at the larger end, 3.00 x 1.90. .. "When brooding, it crouches along, not across, the egg, its mate often standing near; and both sexes incubate, though the male may be seen bringing food to the sitting female. The young flutter from the rocks to the sea, or are taken by the neck and carried down by the parents. They are at first very loath to follow the old bird in diving, and remain crying plaintively on the surface of the water. The food consists of small fish, which are carried diagonally in the bill -not at right angles, as by the Puffin-and crustaceans. The Razor- AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. bill utters a peculiar grunting or groaning, especially when sitting. On the water it may be distinguished from the Guillemot, at a distance, by its upturned tail" (Saunders). 33. Plautus impennis (Linn.). GREAT AUK. - Upper parts fuscous black, a large white spot before the eye; secondaries tipped with white; sides of the neck and throat seal-brown, rest of the under parts silvery white. L., 28-00-30-00; W., 5.75; B., 3·15-3.50; greatest depth of B., 1.50 (Ridgw.). Range.-"Formerly the coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, from Massachusetts and Ireland northward nearly to the Arctic Circle" (A. O. U.). Now extinct.
Egg, pyriform-ovate, pale olive buffy, variously marked with brown and black, 4.67 x 2.91 (Ridgw.).
The Great Auk was flightless. Like other birds of this family, it frequented certain localities in large numbers each year to breed. Early voyagers and fishermen visited its nesting grounds, killing the helpless birds in enormous numbers for their flesh, feathers, and oil. The result was extinction, and no living Great Auk has been observed since 1842. About seventy specimens are known to be preserved in collections. (See Lucas, Rep. Smith. Inst., 1891, pp. 638-641.) 34. Alle alle (Linn.). DoVEKIE; SEA DOVE. Ad. in summer.-Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black; sides and front of the neck and upper breast somewhat browner; secondaries tipped and scapulars streaked with white; lower breast and belly white. Ad. in winter and Im.-Similar to the above, but throat whiter or washed with dusky, and sometimes a gray collar on the nape. L., 8.00; W., 4.50; Tar., 70; B., 50.
Range." Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and eastern Arctic Oceans" (A. O. U.). Breeds from latitude 69° northward; in winter migrates southward, rarely to Long Island and New Jersey; accidental in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Long Island, irregular W. V. Sing Sing, Α. V.
Nest, on the ledges and in the crevices of rocky cliffs. Egg, one, pale bluish white, 1.85 x 1.27. "On the approach of a vessel this bird has a peculiar way of splashing along the surface of the water, as if unable to fly, and then diving through the crest of an advancing wave; it swims rather deep and very much 'by the stern.'..." (Saunders). "Its wings are small, but they are moved almost as rapidly as a Hummingbird's, and propel the bird through the air with great rapidity. This bird is an expert diver too, and, though awkward on land, swims with ease and grace...." (Chamberlain).
JAEGERS AND SKUAS.