^°];^^n Bexdire, Notes on the Ancient Murrelet. 273 



we did not then look in the places — under rank matted grass — 

 which are mostly preferred by this Murrelet for nesting sites. 



"We remained on this desolate, wind-swept island from May 29 

 until June 12. Our days were spent in hunting, preparing skins 

 and eggs, but time passed slowly. At first we looked forward to 

 night in order to renew our acquaintance with our feathered neigh- 

 bors, but after losing about a week's sleep, owing to their squeak- 

 ing, I at least felt like choking the whole lot ; and as if not satis- 

 fied with the constant babble of their neighbors, the Murrelets took 

 especial delight in alighting at the foot of our A-shaped tent, toe- 

 nailing it up to the ridge pole, resting there a moment, and then 

 sliding down on the other side. This exercise seemed to amuse 

 them, and it certainly did us, until the novelty wore ofi^, as it was 

 not conducive to a restful sleep, and finally, tiring of this, and 

 finding but few Murrelets' eggs, we broke camp and started for the 

 mainland, and did not return to the island again until June 23. 



" In a short time after the first birds arrive on their breeding 

 grounds, and before one has time to realize it, the entire surface 

 of certain favorite islands is literally alive with Murrelets and Auk- 

 lets, in the proportion of about two of the latter to one of the 

 former, as well as of both Leach's and Fork-tailed Petrels {Ocea?io- 

 d7-oma furcata)^ the first greatly outnumbering the last. When one 

 walks about at this time, the Murrelets and Auklets become 

 frightened, running, flopping, and flying about in such numbers, 

 that one has to be careful where he steps, lest they be crushed 

 under foot. If it is windy, and it usually is, they are on the wing 

 at once as soon as disturbed, and are quickly out of sight, but 

 when a calm prevails they have to flop to the side of a steep bank 

 where they can jump ofl^, and thereby gain sufftcient headway to 

 keep on the wing, and then in their frantic efforts to be ofif, they 

 become bewildered and are just as apt to fly in one's face, or 

 against the cliffs, as anywhere ; although they usually strike with 

 great force when fairly started, I have never seen one killed or 

 even stunned. They no sooner touch the earth, than they are flop- 

 ping off again at a great rate. 



" It is a difficult matter to calculate the numbers that visit this 

 small island annually, but they certainly number several thousand 

 and if left unmolested by man the island would soon become too 



35 



