A Trip to the Farallones, 



tic and Pacific oceans. In size it about 

 equals a small gull, but has shorter, 

 stiffer wings and a sharper style of bill ; 

 in color it is dark sooty brown on the 

 back, head and throat, with white on 

 the under parts of the body. 



From an examination of the dead 

 bird one would suppose the murre must 

 be a slow and clumsy flier, so small are 

 the wings in proportion to the body; 

 but, when once started, it flies with 

 great swiftness, its sharply-pointed body 

 cleaving the air like a spear, and its 

 compact little wings whirring like a 

 windmill. Those flying about our boat 

 were very tame, and allowed us to 

 draw quite close before making any at- 

 tempt to escape. Some would then dive 

 with an impatient jerk, but the majority 

 would start to fly. Apparently not 

 having the time nor energy to lift their 

 bodies out of the water, they would flap 

 along on the surface, splashing and 

 scuffling in a ludicrously frantic manner. 

 Occasionally some peculiarly energetic 



67 



