BIRDS OF THE OPEN SEA Val 
25. SANTOS MURERELET: — Brachyramphus 
hypoleucus. 
Famity: The Auks, Murres, and Puflins. 
Length : 10.00. 
Adults: Upper parts plain slaty gray ; under parts, including cheeks 
and throat, uniform clear white ; lining of wing white; head without 
ornamental feathers or spines. 
Downy Young: Uniform dusky color above, light gray beneath. 
Geographical Distribution : Southern California to Cape St. Lucas. 
Breeding Range: From San Diego southward on coast of Southern Cali- 
fornia and on Coronado Islands. 
Breeding Season: Approximately, March 1 to June 1. 
Nest: In crevices of cliffs; usually lined with coarse grass. 
Eggs: 1; light buffy, with gray-brown markings. Size 2.05 X 1.50. 
THE Xantus Murrelet is a common resident along the 
coast of Southern California as far north as Monterey. 
Little is known concerning its breeding habits, although 
it nests on the coast from San Diego south, more abun- 
dantly south of the Mexican border. It is numerous 
out in the open sea south of Coronado Islands during 
the breeding season, and is said to nest on the Island 
of San Clementi as well as Coronado. It is found in 
the Santa Barbara Channel at all seasons of the year, 
and without doubt a few nest on the Santa Barbara 
Islands at present, though the breeding ground there 
is reported as deserted for some years. The nesting 
habits are probably not unlike those of its Alaskan 
cousins except as to season. 
