THE MUSEUM. 



39' 



W. H. Osgood and one- 



what is known as the "great rookery*." 

 The entire side of an immense peak 

 is covered with Murres from base to 

 summit. In collecting these eggs the 

 eggers take great risks and often be- 

 come careless. Frequently they go 

 down a damp, slippery cliff by a sin- 

 gle rope which, should it break, would 

 precipitate them onto the rocks far 

 below. The eggs of the Murre pre- 

 sent extraordinary variation as to 

 ground color and markings extending 

 from white through varying shades to 

 a deep green. The markings are of- 

 ten very beautiful. It is of couse, 

 probable that an individual Murre al- 

 ways lays an egg of the same type. 

 In connection with the Cala. Murre 

 it is proper to mention the Western 

 Gull which is the great enemy of the 



* We have reproduced a photo of this i m 

 mense rookery, but at the last moment decid-- 

 ed not to use it in this number as the quality 

 of paper is not fine enough to warrant good 

 results. (Ed.) 



half c ay's •'spoils."' 



Murres and Cormorants. Indeed were- 

 it not for the depredations of the Gull 

 these birds would live in comparative 

 peace whereas, now, it means the loss 

 of their eggs if they are left^unprotect- 

 ed for a moment. 



The West. Gull is the only Gull 

 which nests on the island. It nests 

 chiefly in colonies on the level portions 

 of the island, although a few pairs 

 may be found almost anywhere. The 

 nests are loose affairs of farallone weedt 

 and average perhaps a foot across. 

 Usually they are very shallow and are 

 given shape by the hollows in which 

 they are constructed. If unmolested 

 I am sure the completment is usually 

 three eggs, but constantly robbing has^ 

 the effect of reducing the size of the 

 sets at times. 



The eggs match well with the gen- 

 eral color or the rocks and are often 

 not to be seen unless one is in search 



