! 'E OREGON 
ing description applies to the only piumage 
that we observe them in. The bill is much 
shorter than the head but about equals 
the tarsus in length. Itis short, slightly 
compressed and perfectly straight. 
Bill of Black Guillemot, natural size. 
The nasal fosse is nearly covered by the 
feathers above the nostrils, and the upp2r 
mandible is smooth and not notched or 
grooved at the tip as in “vat rcula, The 
wings and tail are both black with the 
ordinary “‘white mirror’? of the latter 
aimost, if not quite faultless. The neck 
and head and entire under parts pure 
glossy white, while the back and part of 
the neck and head is streaked and much 
variegated with black and white. 
Variations in this plumage are often met 
with of course, but the above is found to 
be true in the majority of cases. While 
with us the birds are very tame often being 
killed by boatmen with an oar. I have 
never observed one flying, the birds never 
taking flight upon the approach of a boat. 
As before stated, the birds only visit us 
during the severest weather in the winter 
and are never seen except far off the coast 
during mild weather. They are rather 
smaller than the next variety averaging 
about 13.00 inches in length; 21.50 inches 
in extent; wing, 6.00; tail, 2.85; tar- 
Sus, 2.00. ‘ 
Although abundant during their visits 
they are far surpassed in numbers at all 
times by, 
NATURALIST. 99 
(30) Urta trotle (763) 
MURRE; FOOLISH DUCK. 
This interesting, and to the eggers of 
Alaska, very valuable bird often visits us 
in large numbers and although at times, 
far more abundant than at others, the sev- 
erity of the weather appears to have little 
effect in increasing or diminishing their 
numbers. The greatest number ever 
observed here was during the winter ot 
i8go which was a rather mild season 
as compared to the general character of 
our winters. 
The bill here differs to some extent from 
the last, being generally much more 
decurved and compressed. It generally 
exceeds in length, that of the tarsus and 
is only slightly shorter than the head. 
‘The culmen presents a uniform and reg- 
uiar curve and the nasal fosse is fully 
feathered; not grooved or furrowed. 
Bill of Murre, reduced one half. 
This is without doubt the least concerned 
at the proximity of man, of any that visits 
us. Rowing along when the birds are 
abundant about the first to the fifteenth 
of January they may be easily captured 
making scarcely no effortto escape, amere 
lazy flap of their wings and they settle 
back, perfectly at ease and seemingly, 
totally oblivious of your presence. | Even 
when secured and placed in the boat they 
seldom attempt to escape, and never by 
flying. 
