“THE CALIFORNIA MURRE. 
_ 933 
Apropos of this indifference to sanitation, may be mentioned the birds’ 
preference for White-crested Cormorants, a favorably situated nest of the 
latter being almost sure to attract a small group of nesting Murres to its 
immediate vicinity. What compensating advantage this arrangement may 
afford them we do not know, for they are certainly doomed therein to a dismal 
martyrdom as targets for the Shag’s impartial distribution of whitewash. 
Moreover, a hobbledehoy cormorant is likely to become very much excited 
over the advent of a bird-man; whereupon, clamorous of escape, he goes 
stravaging over these mild-mannered satellites with exquisite ruthlessness. 
I have seen a group of Murres bowled over in this fashion like ten-pins, not 
once but three times, after which the birds chiefly aggrieved managed to 
extricate themselves from the 
tangle and made off grumbling 
Murre chicks are not pro- 
vided with abundant down, like 
baby Puffins, or even Guille- 
mots. They are scantily sup- 
plied, instead, with a_ stubby 
sort of down, white below, and 
black varied by a sprinkling of 
stout white hairs above,—all 
very short. They are there- 
fore shivery little things, and 
require constant brooding. It 
is on this account that the 
anxious parents venture back, 
singly and by groups, as soon 
as the armed terror begins to 
retire. In preparing to alight, ae 
the bird’s body is brought into Taken in Seattle. Photo by the Author. 
a vertical position, the feet are OUR FRIEND FROM SITKA. 
extended to the utmost to act 
as brakes, and the head is thrust forward as much as possible to guide these 
operations, which are imperfectly correlated at best. Occasionally, a bird 
fails to effect a landing with ease, or at least fears failure, whereupon it turns 
instantly and glides downward upon extended wing preparatory to a new trial. 
As we finally withdraw and the timorous ones come back, there is a fer- 
ment of readjustment on the ledge. Lost chicks pipe shrill inquiry of every 
bustling matron, and if mistaken, are received with spiteful jabs from bills 
as sharp as thorns. When, after much adversity, the right mother is found, 
the chick is promptly thrust between her legs, where the accommodations 
seem ridiculously inadequate. 
