THE CALIFORNIA MURRE. 929 
white centrally below, and brownish dusky above with lance-linear white streaks 
on head and neck. Length of adult about 15.00-18.00 (381-457.2); wing 8.30 
(210.8) ; bill 1.85 (47), depth thru angle .57 (14.5); tarsus 1.50 (38.1). 
Recognition Marks.—Crow size; black and white coloration ; aquatic habits ; 
sharply pointed wings; rapid, graceful flight; tapering head, slant of forehead 
nearly conformable to that of bill. 
Nesting.—Single egg laid on ledge of rock, in cranny or in cave, sharply 
tapering at one end, very variable as to ground-color, ranging thru white, grayish, 
bluish- or greenish-white, to deep sea-green and variously marked, spotted, 
splashed, scrawled, or stained with brownish or purplish black or even (rarely) 
rufous. Av. size, 2.30 x 2.00 (58.4x 50.8). Season: June; one chick. 
General Range.—Pacific Coast of North America, resident from Bering 
Sea south to southern California. 
Range in Washington.—Common resident on the West Coast, breeding on 
certain of the Olympiades, notably the Grenville Pillar, Willoughby Rock, Carroll 
Islet, Paahwoke-it, Old Rock, and Silversides. Not common winter resident on 
Admiralty Inlet, more common in winter on Washington Sound and adjacent 
waters. 
Authorities.—Rhoads, Auk, Vol. X. Jan. 1893, p. 17. B. E. 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. C. E. 
AS we approach one of the towering citadels which the sea-birds have 
known for ages as home, our presence will not pass unnoticed. Scouting 
Puffins, Shags, and Gulls will have reported us unfavorably to their waiting 
companions; while the Black Oyster-catcher, that prince of yellow journalists, 
will have published a lurid account of our misdoings, when as yet we are a 
hundred yards removed. Conspicuous among the anxious, hurrying throng 
which expects our approach, are bevies of California Murres, swifter of pace 
and more graceful in motion than either Puffins or Cormorants; and they 
go hurtling about without apparent object other than to maintain their share 
of the general excitement. 
The Murres, however, are easily satisfied, and will soon return to their 
ledges to await our more particular inspection. The main colony on Carroll 
occupies a bare shoulder not over seventy-five feet from the water; yet to 
reach it one must scale the island, tunnel thru the dense brush and timber on 
its crown, descend a Puffin slope, and take a very pretty defile, which not only 
looks but is perpendicular, run a gauntlet of croaking Shags, and arrive at last 
upon the proximal end of the Murre ridge. The father Murres have fled 
again, but a crowd of females remain huddled together, shifting uneasily 
upon their eggs, or backing away from the nearest ones, uttering the while 
apprehensive hows. All the birds in turn bow extravagantly, using only their 
heads and sinuous necks, and so frequently that a colony viewed from above 
looks something like a grain field under a breeze. 
If the intruder does not press his advantage too hotly, those that have 
