A Trip to the Farallones, 



able animation. Some of the birds 

 were busy dressing their plumage, while 

 now and then one would rise up and 

 flap its wings as if to relieve the tension 

 of its cramped position, and then 

 settle back contentedly in the same 

 spot. A bird upon the topmost ridge 

 stretched its neck out and leaned far 

 forward as if contemplating a plunge 

 into the seething waters below. One 

 of their most curious habits is that of 

 bowing. The first bird in a row will 

 gravely bow his head, perhaps once, or, 

 not infrequently, two or three times, 

 followed in turn by each one in the 

 assembly. Sometimes the motion is 

 more undignified, like a sudden duck- 

 ing of the head as if to dodge a blow, 

 and the entire row may participate in 

 the ceremony at once. 



Each mother murre lays one enor- 

 mous ^^^ upon the bare rocky ledge, 

 and this she guards with unfailing care 

 during the long period of incubation. 

 The birds set upright with their bodies 

 79 



