of the islands of the Aleutian chain they breed quite abundantly. The
nests are placed back in the crevices of the rocks, where the single
white eggs are laid. Size 2.00 x 1.25.

[Illustration 027: Paroquet Auklet. Crested Auklet.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 26

20. LEAST AUKLET. _Aethia pusilla._

Range.--North Pacific on the islands and coast of Alaska. This is the
smallest of the Auklets; length 6.5 in. This species has no crest, but
has the slender white plumes extending back from the eye. The entire
under parts are white sparsely spotted with dusky. This species is by
far the most abundant of the water birds of the extreme Northwest, and
thousands of them, accompanied by the two preceding species, nest on the
rocky cliffs of the islands of Bering Sea. Their nesting habits are the
same as those of the other Auklets, they placing their single white egg
on the bare rocks, in crevices on the cliffs. Size 1.55 x 1.10.
Data.--Pribilof Is., Alaska, June 8, 1897. Single egg laid in crevice.
Thousands breeding on the island.

21. ANCIENT MURRELET. _Synthliboramphus antiquus._

Range.--Pacific Coast, breeding from the border of the United States,
northward, and wintering south to southern California.

The Murrelets have no crests or plumes and the bills are more slender
than the Auklets and are not highly colored. The ancient Murrelet or
Black-throated Murrelet, as it is also called, has a gray back, white
under parts and a black head and throat, with a broad white stripe back
of the eye and another formed by the white on the breast extending up on
the side of the neck. They breed abundantly on the islands in Bering
Sea, laying one or two eggs at the end of burrows in the banks or on the
ground, and in some localities in crevices on the cliffs. The eggs are a
buffy white color and are faintly marked with light brown, some of these
being in the shape of spots and others lengthened. Size 2.40 x 1.40.
Data.--Sanak Islands, July 1, 1894. Two eggs on the ground under a tuft
of grass and in a slight excavation lined with fine grass.

[Illustration: Least Auklet. Ancient Murrelet. Marbled Murrelet.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

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23. MARBLED MURRELET. _Brachyramphus marmoratus._

Range.--North Pacific Coast, breeding from Vancouver Island. South in
winter to southern California.

In the breeding plumage, this bird is br