reed on the same islands in company with the common Murre and
their eggs are indistinguishable. Data.--Coast of South Labrador. Single
egg laid on ledge of cliff. About three hundred birds in the colony.

[Illustration 032: Varies from white to greenish blue.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 31

31a. PALLAS MURRE. _Uria lomvia arra._

Range.--The Pacific coasts and islands.

This is the Pacific form of Brunnich Murre. Its breeding range is more
northerly than that of the California variety. Countless thousands of
them breed on the islands off the coast of Alaska, their breeding habits
and eggs being the same as the more southern form.

32. RAZOR-BILLED AUK. _Alca torda._

Range.--North Atlantic coast, breeding from Bird Rock northward and
wintering south to the Middle States on the coast.

The Razor-billed Auk is in form similar to the Murres, but the bill is
very different, being deep and thin, and with the upper mandible rounded
at the tip. Entire upper parts black shading to brownish on the throat.
Under parts and tips of secondaries, white; line from eye to bill and
another across the middle of the bill, white. They nest in large numbers
on Bird Rock in company with the Murres and in still greater numbers off
the coast of Labrador. Their eggs are not placed in as exposed positions
as the Murres, being generally behind boulders or in crevices. This is
necessary because, not being of the pear-shaped form of the Murres, they
would be very apt to be dislodged if commonly placed on the narrow
ledges. The eggs vary endlessly in marking but do not show the
differences in ground color that the Murres do. The color is white,
grayish or buffy. But one egg is generally laid, although two are
sometimes found. Size 3.00 x 2.00. Data.--Bay of Fundy. June 17, 1891.
Single egg laid on bare rock in a crevice under loose rocks. Collector,
A. C. Bent.

[Illustration 033: Grayish white.] [Illustration: right hand margin.]

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33. GREAT AUK. _Plautus impennis._

Range.--Formerly the whole of the North Atlantic coasts. Now extinct.

These great auks formerly dwelt in large numbers on the islands of the
North Atlantic, but owing to their lack of the powers of flight and the
destructiveness of mankind, the living bird has disappeared from the
face of the earth. Although they were about thirty inches in length,
their wings were even smaller than those of the Razor-billed Auk, a bird
only eighteen inches in le