[Illustration 021: Pacific Loon. Red-throated Loon.] [Illustration: PACIFIC LOON. Greenish brown or gray.] [Illustration: right-hand margin.]
[Illustration 022: J. A. Munro. NEST AND EGGS OF LOON. This nest is built on top of a Muskrat house.]
Puffins, Auks and Murres are all sea birds and are only found inland when blown there by some severe storm of winter. At this season numbers of them are apt to lose their bearings and may sometimes be found with their feet frozen in some of our inland ponds. Puffins are heavily built birds in appearance, but are very active both on the wing and in the water. Their wings are much larger comparatively than those of the other members of this family, so they are enabled to perform evolutions in the air, which are withheld from the others. They stand upright on the sole of the foot and are able to walk quite easily on land. Puffins have very heavy and deep but thin bills, which are entirely unlike those of any other bird and often give then the name of Parrot Auks. Puffins, Auks and Murres are otherwise recognized by the presence of but three toes which are webbed.
[Illustration 023: NEST AND EGGS OF PIED-BILLED GREBE.] [Illustration: right hand margin.]
Range.--Pacific Coast from Alaska southward to southern California, breeding locally throughout their range.
Tufted Puffins are the largest of the Puffins. In the breeding plumage, they are a sooty brownish or black color; the cheeks are white, and a long tuft of straw colored feathers extends back from each eye; the bill is bright red and greenish yellow. They breed commonly on the Farallones, where two or three broods are raised by a bird in a single season, but much more abundantly on the islands in the north. Their single eggs are laid in burrows in the ground or else in natural crevices formed by the rocks. The eggs are pure white or pale buff and are without gloss. They very often have barely perceptible shell markings of dull purplish color. The eggs are laid about the middle of June. Size 2.80 × 1.90. Data.--Farallone Is., May 27, 1887. Single egg laid in crevice of rocks. Collector, W. O. Emerson.
13. PUFFIN. _Fratercula arctica arctica._
Range.--North Atlantic Coast, breeding from the Bay of Fundy northward. Winters from breeding range along the New England Coast.