MARBLED MURRELET 145 



California. It is particularly abundant in winter about Puget Sound 

 and the straits and channels around Vancouver Island. Mr. Daw- 

 son (1909) has sketched a vivid picture of it in its winter home, from 

 which I quote as follows: 



To be sure it is a bit chilly out and there are spiteful dabs of rain between 

 whiles, but the forward deck is clear, for the helpless ones are crowded in the 

 cabin. We may have the bow to ourselves and what a glorious company of 

 sights and sounds there are about us. Every blue-gray wave has a voice, and 

 the blue-gray wind tries every tone with its deft fingers. But there are those 

 who enjoy the conflict of the storm even more than we. Above the whining 

 of the waters and the crashing of the prow come shrill exultant cries, Meer- 

 meer-meer-meer. The murrelets are in their element, and they shriek to each 

 other across the dancing waters like Tritons at play. Perhaps association 

 will partly account for it, but somehow the note of the marbled murrelet seems 

 of itself to suggest piping gales and rugged cliffs beset by pounding surf. It 

 is the articulate cry of the sea in a royal mood. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Breeding range. Coasts and islands of the North Pacific. From 

 the eastern Aleutian Islands (Unalaska Island) along the coast of 

 southern Alaska (Kodiak Island, Prince William Sound, and 

 Sitkan district) and south along the coast of British Columbia 

 (Queen Charlotte Islands, and Vancouver Island) to northwestern 

 Washington (Puget Sound region). This is the summer distribu- 

 tion and the species is assumed to breed within this range. Prob- 

 ably Bering Sea should be included, but records are not conclusive. 

 Dunham reports eggs taken near Nome, Alaska. Also said to breed 

 in the Kurile Islands. 



Winter range. Southward from British Columbia (Burrard In- 

 let, Departure Bay, and Barkley Sound) and Washington (Puget 

 Sound) to California (San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey 

 Bay, and Santa Barbara). 



Spring migration. Birds were noted at Point Pinos, California, 

 flying northward, late in February and through March, the last seen 

 April 2. In southeastern Alaska one was shot on Frederick Sound, 

 April 10, and several were seen April 17 at Admiralty Island. 



Fall migration. A bird was taken near Nushagak (north of the 

 Alaska Peninsula) on September 5, and several supposed to be 

 marbled murrelets seen on Kanatak Bay as late as October 13. In 

 the Prince William Sound region the last specimen was taken 

 August 13, while they remained common on Baranof Island, Sitkan 

 district, until August 27. One was taken in Sitka Bay, October 2. 

 Off Point Pinos, California, the first migrants were taken June 22, 

 1907 (adult) and June 29, 1907 (immature). In 1894 they first ap- 

 peared early in July. At Santa Barbara a bird was found dead 

 July 30. 



