MARBLED MURRELET 141 



been reported from southeastern Alaska; Ketchikan, May 16; How- 

 kan, April 12; Warren Channel, May 19. 



Fall migration. They have been recorded from the Pribilof 

 Islands as late as November 7, the Aleutian Islands (Krenitzin 

 Islands) August 14, and Prince William Sound region August 11. 

 A bird taken August 9 on Puget Sound, Washington, was an early 

 migrant. The earliest arrivals on the Californian coast, at Point 

 Pinos, were seen October 21 and at Monterey September 2, and they 

 are stated to reach Japan (Yezzo) in October. 



Casual records. A single specimen was taken on Lake Kosh- 

 konong, Wisconsin, in October; one at Toronto, Ontario, November 

 18; and one on the Canadian side of Lake Erie November 15. Has 

 been recorded from the Pribilof Islands (St. George). 



Egg dates. Sanak Island, Alaska: 12 records, June 11 to July 28; 

 6 records, June 25 to 30. Southern Alaska; 7 records, May 1 to 

 July 16; 4 records, May 20 to June 11. Queen Charlotte Islands: 

 2 records, April 20 and June 10. 



Brachyramphus marmoratus (Gmelin) 

 MARBLED MURRELET 



HABITS 



While cruising northward through the picturesque inside pas- 

 sages which extend from Puget Sound to Alaska, where the heavily 

 timbered hills rise abruptly from the water, range after range up 

 to the snow-capped mountain tops, and where frequent waterfalls 

 come tumbling down over the cliffs into the placid waters of the 

 bays and channels, we frequently saw these little sea birds skimming 

 over the surface of the water. This is their chosen summer home, 

 for, unlike the other murrelets and auklets, they seem to prefer 

 these sheltered waters to the open sea. They were always shy and 

 generally flew away so far in advance of the ship that it required 

 sharp eyes to see them, but occasionally when surprised near at 

 hand they were forced .to escape by diving. Near Ketchikan we 

 collected a few by chasing them in a skiff, but this required con- 

 siderable chasing, for they were always on the alert. If we chanced 

 to get near them they would dive like a flash, but at a greater dis- 

 tance they would jump into the air and fly away with a burst of 

 speed. We had the best success in drifting upon them with the 

 tide, or down wind, while they were fishing in the tide rips, and 

 taking a long shot at them as they rose. 



Nesting. Somewhere in this general region are their breeding 

 grounds, but we did not succeed in finding them, nor have any 

 other ornithologists, several of whom have spent considerable time 

 in the search. I have even offered substantial rewards to natives 



