NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 13 



Ocean, breeding on the islands and along the coasts from Sitka north- 

 ward. Nests that have been found of this species were in holes in 

 banks, or in burrows in the ground, similar to those of the Petrels. 

 On some of the islands of Bering Sea, however, the birds are 

 known to deposit their eggs in the crevices of cliffs. A single egg is 

 laid, pale buff in color, with small longitudinal markings, somewhat 

 subdued, of lavender gray and a light brown. Sizes range from 2.15 

 to 2.50 long by 1.40 to 1.55 broad. 



23. Brachyramphus marmoratus (Gmel.) [755.] 



^ Marbled Murrelet. 



Hab. Coast and islands of the North Pacific; on the American coast from San Diego northward, and 

 breeding as far south at Vancouver Island. 



This is another of the diminutive Murres confined to the Pacific 

 Ocean. There seems to be little known concerning its nidification, 

 but its nesting habits and eggs are said to resemble those of the 

 Ancient Murrelet, 6^. antiqmis. They are ovate in shape, ground 

 color buflfy, marked with various shades of brown. Size, 2,.'l\^ 1.42. 



\J 26. Bracliyramphus craveri (Salvad.) [758.] 



Craveri's Murrelet. 



Hab. Island of Natividad, Gulf of California. 



Craveri's Murrelet, of plain dark, slaty plumage above, and entirely 

 pure white beneath, breeds on the islands at the southern portion of 

 Lower California, in the vicinity of Cape St. Lucas. It nests in bur- 

 rows in the ground, and its general habits in all respects are said to be 

 the same as those of S.antiqzius. It deposits a single egg,which is ovate 

 in shape, of a yellowish or buff ground color, thickly dotted, sprinkled 

 and marked with blackish-brown. Average size 2.03 x 1,40. 



27. Cepphus grylle (Linn.). [760, /ar/.] 



Black Gnilleiuot. 



Hab. Coasts of Northern Europe, south to Denmark and British Islands; coast of Maine, south in 

 winter to Philadelphia; Newfoundland (?) 



In Europe this species breeds from the northern coasts of the 

 British Islands to the Arctic Ocean. It is resident on the north coast 

 of Ireland. Breeds commonly on the Hebrides, Orkneys and other 

 islands on the coast of Scotland. A very common species along the 

 entire coast of Norway. In North America it breeds on the islands 

 off the coast of Maine ; on Grand Manan and other smaller islands it 

 is found in countless numbers about the middle of June, depositing its 

 eggs in the nooks and crevices of rocks, and in all sorts of places 

 which offer shelter above high water mark. The eggs are laid on the 

 bare surface of the rock, with no attempt at nest building. So skillful 



