A Trip to the Farallones, 



individual would actually lift himself 

 above the sustaining fluid, but, appar- 

 ently blinded in his hurry to escape, 

 would plunge directly at the first wave 

 that happened to be slightly higher 

 than usual, and tumble into the water in 

 the most awkward manner imaginable. 

 I noticed that whenever the birds 

 dived the wings were thrown out, seem- 

 ingly to assist in swimming, instead of 

 being folded close to the body, as with 

 most diving birds. Later observations 

 confirmed the theory that they swim 

 under water, using their wings as well 

 as their feet, for they may frequently be 

 seen from the Farallone rocks propel- 

 ling themselves in this manner while 

 submerged. Indeed, the form of the 

 wing is curiously analogous to that of 

 the penguin, being shaped something 

 like a flipper, and very stiff and com- 

 pact. It is, of course, only an analogy, 

 the penguin's wing being scaled, while 

 the character of the murre's wing is due 

 to the stiffness and shortness of the 

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