920 THE MARBLED MURRELET. 



on scapulars; lining of wings brownish black: entire mulerparts, including sides 

 of head and neck, mottled white and sooty brown ( the pattern varying individu- 

 ally). Bill black: tarsi and webs of feet blackish: tarsi and tops of toes flesh- 

 color. Adult in winter: Entire underparts pure white, the color encroaching on 

 sides of head to lore, on sides of neck nearly (but never c|uitel meeting behind, 

 on sides of rump leaving dark area an inch wide: upjierparts chiefly plumbeous, 

 changing to blackish on crown, wings, and tail : feathers of back, etc., with 

 blackish centers: scapulars chiefly white, forming cnnspicu<ius ])atches: greater 

 wing-coverts narrowly edged with white. Siiecimens exhiliit every intermediate 

 phase between these two extremes according to age (?) and season. Iniiuatnre 

 (first plumage) : I'pjaerparts like adult in winter, but blacker, without |)lumbeous; 

 white of scapulars restricted : underparts chiefly white, l.iut wavy-marked with 

 duskw save on chin, belly and crissnm. Length of adult : lO.oo (254) ; wing 5.00 

 ( 127) : bill .(13 ( i(>.3). depth at l)ase .24 (6.1 ), width .20 (5.1 ) : tarsus .70 ( 17.8). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; in winter ( wlun oftenest seen ) to appear- 

 ance a miniature California Murre; black and white coloration; sharp tapering 

 bill wtih sloping forehead: short-necked and Inw-lying, as compared with Horned 

 L.rebe; form elongate, as compared with the smaller Anklets; chin i^'hitc. nape 

 more narrowly sooty, bill lunger and unifnrmly black, as compared with the 

 Ancient ]\lurrelet. 



Nesting. — Not known to breed in Washington. Eihis reported from .Alaska, 

 one or two laid in I)urrow or crevice of rocks, nearly equal-ended, buft'y white 

 fainth and s]iaringlv marked with 1ir<iwn. .\v. size. 2.20x1.40 ( 53.1) x 35.6). 

 Season: June. 



General Range. — I'acilic Coast of North America, breeding frtmi N'ancouver 

 Island Udrthward; snulh in winter to southern Calitnrnia. 



Range in Washington. — .Vbimclant winter resident on Puget Sound and 

 connected waters; casual in winter on larger fresh-water lakes; not common sum- 

 mer resident on \\'ashington Sound and on the western coast; also of local occiu"- 

 rence in summer on the upper Sound, 



Authorities. — Vvia tincusrndii. Aiidiibon, (.)rn. ISiog. \'. 1831}. 231, pi. 430. 

 Townsend. " Narrative." 1830. p. 332. CMcS. l\li. 15. E. 



Specimens. — L'. of W. Prov. IJ. H. 



E(^R those who lon,g for "something different" we recoiiiinend a steam- 

 boat ride along, say. Hale Passage, or across the eastern arm of the Straits on 

 a hlowv da\' in December. To be sm-e it is a bit chilh' mit and there are spite- 

 ful dabs of rain between whiles, but the forwartl deck is clear, for the helpless 

 ones are crowded in the cal.)in jilaying I'oker or scowling glDnmily out of the 

 windows. We iiia\- ha\e the bow to ourseh'es — you and I — and what a glorious 

 coin])anv of sights and sotnids there are about us! l*.\ery blue-gray \va\e has a 

 voice, and the grav-l)lue A\ind tries e\'ery tone with its deft fingers. The 

 ch(irus smites u])on the ])ro\\ with its ne\er-ending climaxes of spray, to whicli 

 our staunch boat ojiposes nuW its patient luethodical sighing. Now the wiml 

 laughs, and while it marshals its serried ranks for a fiercer charge, our drum- 



