28 



MURRE 

 30. Uria troille. 16 inches. 



Tn sunimi. the throat is brownish black, but in win- 

 ter the throat and sides of head are white; feet blackish 

 bill, long and stout, 1.7 in. long, while that of Brunnich 

 Murre (Uria lomvia No. 31), is shorter (1.25 in.) and 

 more swollen. The ranges and habits of the two species 

 are the same. Murres are very gregarious, nesting in 

 large colonies on northern cliffs. In summer every ledge 

 available at their nesting resort is lined with these 

 birds, sitting upright on their single eggs. 



Notes. A hoarse imitation of their name " murre." 



Nest. Their single eggs are laid upon the bare ledges 

 of cliffs. They are pear-shaped to prevent their rolling 

 off when the bird leaves; greenish, gray or white in 

 color, handsomely blotched or lined with blackish (3.40 

 x 2.00 ) . Their eggs present a greater diversity of color- 

 ation and marking than those of any other bird. 



Range. Breeds from the Magdalen Is. northward; 

 winters south to Long Island. 



