924 THE PIGEON GUILLEMOT 



The birds are evidently ])roud of their "full dress" suits, and an envious 

 conijjany of "grays" will gather about some xigorous y(nuig buck, who has 

 come out in a new I'ig early in the seasnn. and they will gape mingletl admira- 

 tion and chagrin, while tiie luck\- felldw "stands cm his tail" repeatedl\- with 

 slowly fluttering wings. 



Xotwithstanding an earh' exchange of \'t)ws, and man\' feints at nest- 

 deh'ing, the Pigeons do not actually nest till June: and at this season the 

 birds may be divided roughly intt) two grciuijs: those wdiich occupy the beach 

 bluffs of the upper Sound, Puget Snund proper, and those which frequent 

 the coasts and rockv islets of the lower, or W'ashingtcm Sound region. This 

 division is confessedly arljitrar\-, and is due to the dil'fering character of the 

 countrv chosen rather than tn any uhst-rxed dittercnce in the birds themselves. 

 Be that as it may, where\-er the extensive and intricate shore-line of Puget 

 Sound presents an abrupt face of glacial drift, gravel, clay, or sand, there 

 about a gun shot offshore, may be seen a pair of watchful black "Pigeons," 

 swimming leisurelv to and fro in pretended indifference, or drawing together 

 for low consultation. And there, in the face of the l)luff, at a height of from 

 ten to fift\' feet, may be seen the entrance of a tunnel si.x or eight inches in 

 diameter, at the end of which, two or three feet in, re])ose two eggs — cream- 

 colored or pale olive-buffv in tint, with liold spots anfl splashes of um]:)er and 

 chocolate, 'i'his is the stereotyjied situation, to which a thousand instances 

 exactly conform. 



P>ut among the rocky islets of San Juan County favoring conditions have 

 induced a great variet\' in the nesting habits of the Pigeon Guillemot. Xo 

 matter how small the rock, if it lifts a rough head clear of the higher tides, 

 its crannies and interstices are sure to be i_)ccnpied by a few pairs of these 

 harmless sea-folk. A txpical bird-rock will be dominated by a company of 

 Glaucous-winged Gulls, clamorous, indeed, but dignified and hand.some withal: 

 and their nests will be ])laced in open situations on the ledges and about the 

 rockv summits. If the ])lace ])reseuts a sheer sea-wall. Baird Cormorants will 

 occui)v its tenuous knobs and oxerhnng shehes. .\ few Tufted Puffins will 

 circle about like unquiet sjjirits, silent, but mindful e\er of the single egg 

 stowed awa\' in ca\e or burrow. I'.ut the real bulk of the bird population 

 is made up by the ubif|uitous Guillemot. As one clambers over the rough 

 sides of the rookerx', these birds tuml>le out just ahead like sleepy children, 

 and ]ilunge with all speed into the nearest water, by wa\' of getting their wits 

 collected. After a refreshing di\'e, tiiey join in tin-n the growing company of 

 their fellows, who bob and hiss from beyond the kelp line. 



If partiallv reassured the bird realights ui)on an ex])osed surface of the 

 rock, and opens a carmine niontli of inquiry. Others join him, and soon your 

 motives are being discussed b\ a w hining compaii}' of these wondering wights 

 Their only note is a cross between a hiss and a whine, and it has no great 



