THE MARBLED MURRELET. 919 
pure white; bill yellow or whitish, blackening at base, and (more sharply) on 
ridge; feet and legs yellowish with abrupt black line on back of tarsus, webs black- 
ish, nails black. Jn winter: Plumbeous of upperparts less pure; more white on 
eyelids; white feathers of crown and shoulder-patches nearly wanting; sooty more 
extensive on nape, replaced on cheeks and throat with plumbeous dusky, shading 
into pure white of underparts ; forehead overcast with plumbeous; sides plumbeous 
or dusky in patchy pattern. Length 9.50-10.50 (241.3-266.7) ; wing 5.50 (139.7) ; 
tail 1.60 (40.6) ; bill .60 (15.2); depth of bill at base .30 (7.6), width .20 (5.1) 
tarsus 1.00 (25.4). 
Recognition Marks.—Robin size ; white crown-stripes distinctive in summer. 
In winter nape more broadly sooty than B. marmoratus, bill much shorter and 
showing yellowish on sides ; chin and throat washed with plumbeous dusky where 
B. m. is pure white. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Washington. Nest: a burrow in bank or 
crevice in cliff. Eggs: 2, buffy white, marked with light brown of various shades, 
according to depth in shell; shape elliptical ovate. Av. size, 2.40 x 1.40 (61 x 35.6). 
Season: c. July 1st; one brood. 
General Range.—Northwest coast of North America, breeding on the islands 
of Bering Sea and southern Alaska; south irregularly in winter as far as southern 
California. 
Range in Washington.—Probably not uncommon in winter and during 
migrations off West Coast; casual upon the Straits and on Puget Sound. 
Authorities—Brachyramphus temmincku Brandt, Cassin (Baird) Rep. Pac. 
R. R. Surv. Vol. EX. pt. IT. 1858, p. 917 (Specimen referred to recently identified 
by Dr. C. W. Richmond as S. antiquus). C&S. Rh. 
Specimens.— Prov. C. 
THIS quaint amphibian is called ‘the old man” by the natives of the 
Commander Islands where he summers. In winter he renews his youth by 
dropping the hoary strands which adorned temples and hind head, and at this 
season sometimes ventures south, where he may not easily be distinguished 
from his kindred Triton, the Marbled Murrelet. Mr. Allan Brooks, however, 
has seen a specimen of this species taken in the Straits of Juan de Fuca, and 
this romantic thorofare appears to be the winter trysting place of many 
mconmus. 
No. 370. 
MARBLED MURRELET. 
A. O. U. No. 23. Brachyramphus marmoratus (Gmel.). 
Synonyms.—TowNseENp’s MurreLit. WRrRANGEL’S MuRRELET. 
Description.—Adults im breeding plumage: Upperparts brownish black, 
everywhere, save on wings, crossbarred with bright rusty or chestnut; primaries 
blackening distally, changing to gray on inner webs basally ; some white marking 
