BIRD ROCK 



175 



most exposed situations ; 8 ? and seeing them now for 

 the first time in Nature, I was quite willing to accept 

 the theory which has been advanced to account for 

 their markedly toplike or pearlike shape. A round 

 or elliptical egg, laid in the situations often chosen 

 by the Murres, 

 would, when 

 moved by the 

 wind or incubat- 

 ing bird, readily 

 roll from its pre- 

 carious position, 

 but the pointed 

 egg of the Murre 

 when disturbed 

 describes a circle 

 about its own end. 

 Thus, like a dip- 

 lomat, it seeming- 

 ly yields to supe- 

 rior force while 



retaining its Orig- 90. Young Murres and egg. 



malposition. The 



eggs vary in color from greenish blue to buff, and 

 are strikingly scrawled and blotched with shades 

 of chocolate. No two are alike, a fact which it is 

 supposed may aid the parent Murre in distinguish- 

 ing her own egg among the dozens with which it 

 may be placed. 



The few eggs seen were doubtless laid by birds 

 which had been robbed earlier in the season, but 

 young were found in every stage, from the newly 

 hatched downy chick, 90 who sat an his narrow ledge 



