16 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



jected, and they are compelled to lay several times before they are left 

 undisturbed by the eggers. So telling is the effect due to constant laying 

 that the eggs deposited in the latter part of the season are perceptibly 

 smaller. 



The Western Gull, Larus occidentalis, is another enemy of this 

 Murre ; it carries off and devours both eggs and young. So it would 

 seem that the chances for the Murre to rear its young and launch them 

 into the deep, blue sea, where they can take care of themselves, are 

 not very favorable, yet these birds are found in countless numbers on 

 the islands of the Pacific coast. Mr. Bryant, in his excellent paper,* says: 

 " The gulls pick a murre's egg up bodily and carry it away in their 

 capacious mouth, but do not stick their bill into it to get hold, as is 

 stated by some writers, whose observations must have referred to the 

 eggs already broken by the gulls or eggers." 



This species lays a single pear-shaped egg on the bare rock, often 

 on the narrow shelves of cliffs, where the bird has just room enough to 

 sit, and if unmolested will rear two and three young in a season. 

 Like the eggs of the last species, they show a wonderful diversity of 

 color and markings ; the ground color is white, buff, greenish of several 

 shades, yellowish, and cinnamon. They are either unspotted or 

 blotched or streaked with zigzag markings of brown and black. They 

 measure from 3.30 to 3.50 long by 1.90 to 2.05 broad; occasionally as 

 small as 2.05 in length by 1.45 in breadth. 



31. Uria lomvia (LINN.) [7640.] 



Murre. 



Hab. Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and Eastern Arctic Ocean, south on the Atlantic coast 

 of North America to New Jersey. Breeding from the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward. 



This species has the same general habits and characteristics as the 

 common Murre, Uria troile. Its distribution in the breeding season is 

 about the same, and the eggs are indistinguishable. It is an abundant 

 bird on the islands of the North Atlantic. 



310. Uria lomvia arra (PALL.) [764.] 



Fallas's Mtirre. 

 Hab. Coasts and islands of the North Pacific and Western Arctic Ocean. 



The great " egg bird" of the North Pacific, swarming at its breed- 

 ing places on the rocky islands and shores in myriads. Its habits and 

 nesting are the same as those of the foregoing, the eggs averaging 

 larger, 3-2ix 2.01. 



* Birds and Eggs from the Farallon Islands. 



