12 The Wilson Bulletin — No. G(). 



and another chick vigorously struggling to free himself from 

 the shell, the large end of which he has forced off. His back 

 was toward the camera. 



No nest material is used, and, of course, none is needed. 

 When the bird must leave the egg to secure food it is left on 

 the bare rock, and at the mercy of wind and flying enemy. But 

 eggs several days old are so befouled with grime and lime 

 that they are not easily distinguished from the lime-covered 

 rock upon which they rest. One wonders if even the fall rains 

 and winter storms could wash those rocks clean ! The stench 

 was '■ quite some." 



For all of the crowding, or because of it, there was little 

 quarreling among the Murres, but there seemed to be consid- 

 erable conversation at all times. They were packed so tightly 

 together that late arriving birds found difficulty in wedging 

 down to reach the rock surface. In approaching the rock 

 they usually flew somewhat higher than its surface and flut- 

 tered down, landing heavily. 



p.AiRD CORMORANT {PJialacvocovox pclogiciis rcsplcndens.) 



The nesting places of this Cormorant were small ledges or 

 grottoes in precipices. Therefore the most of them were nest- 

 ing on the ocean side of the island, and at various elevations. 

 Nests were usually placed not nearer together than several 

 feet, possibly because of the character of the rock face. The 

 birds were uniformly more timid than the White-crested. 

 Their single bark-like cry was not often heard, even when 

 they were disturbed or frightened. 



None of the nests examined contained sticks, but were 

 wholly composed of dry grass, with occasionally a few feath- 

 ers in the lining. All of the nest except the outside was clean, 

 but the outside was characteristically covered with lime, and 

 the rocks below the nest for many feet were white with the 

 same substance. In fact, the nesting places of these birds 

 could be discerned at considerable distances by the white 

 streaking of the dark gray rocks. All along the coast, when 

 we approached the rocky shores evidences of these birds were 

 scattered along the rocks. 



