920 THE MARBLED MURRELET. 
on scapulars; lining of wings brownish black; entire underparts, including sides 
of head and neck, mottled white and sooty brown (the pattern varying individu- 
ally). Bill black; tarsi and webs of feet blackish; tarsi and tops of toes flesh- 
color, Adult in winter: Entire underparts pure white, the color encroaching on 
sides of head to lore, on sides of neck nearly (but never quite) meeting behind, 
on sides of rump leaving dark area an inch wide; upperparts chiefly plumbeous, 
changing to blackish on crown, wings, and tail; feathers of back, ete., with 
blackish centers; scapulars chiefly white, forming conspicuous patches; greater 
wing-coverts narrowly edged with white. Specimens exhibit every intermediate 
phase between these two extremes according to age (?) and season. /mmature 
(first plumage): Upperparts like adult in winter, but blacker, without plumbeous ; 
white of scapulars restricted; underparts chiefly white, but wavy-marked with 
dusky, save on chin, belly and crissum, Length of adult: 10.00 (254); wing 5.00 
(127); bill .65 (16.5), depth at base .24 (6.1), width .20 (5.1); tarsus .7o (17.8). 
Recognition Marks.—Robin size; in winter (when oftenest seen) to appear- 
ance a miniature California Murre; black and white coloration; sharp tapering 
bill wtih sloping forehead ; short-necked and low-lying, as compared with Horned 
Grebe; form elongate, as compared with the smaller Auklets; chin white, nape 
more narrowly sooty, bill longer and uniformly black, as compared with the 
Ancient Murrelet. 
Nesting.—Not known to breed in Washington. Eggs reported from Alaska, 
one or two laid in burrow or crevice of rocks, nearly equal-ended, buffy white 
faintly and sparingly marked with brown, Av. size, 2.20 1.40 (55.9 X 35.6). 
Season: June. 
General Range.—Pacific Coast of North America, breeding from Vancouver 
Island northward; south in winter to southern California. 
Range in Washington.—Abundant winter resident on Puget Sound and 
connected waters ; casual in winter on larger fresh-water lakes; not common sum- 
mer resident on Washington Sound and on the western coast; also of local oceur- 
rence in summer on the upper Sound. 
Authorities.—Uria tozensendii, Audubon, Orn. Diog. V. 1839, 251, pl. 430. 
Townsend, “Narrative,” 1839, p. 352. C&S. Rh. B. E. 
Specimens.—U. of W. Prov. B. E. 
FOR those who long for “something different” we recommend a steam- 
boat ride along, say, Hale Passage, or across the eastern arm of the Straits on 
a blowy day in December. To be sure it is a bit chilly out and there are spite- 
ful dabs of rain between whiles, but the forward deck is clear, for the helpless 
ones are crowded in the cabin playing poker or scowling gloomily out of the 
windows. We may have the bow to ourselves—vou and I—and what a glorious 
company of sights and sounds there are about us! Every blue-gray wave has a 
voice, and the gray-blue wind tries every tone with its deft fingers. The 
chorus smites upon the prow with its never-ending climaxes of spray, to which 
our staunch boat opposes only its patient methodical sighing. Now the wind 
laughs, and while it marshals its serried ranks for a fiercer charge, our drum- 
