XANTUS'S MURRELET 149 



refer to this species. Thayer and Bangs record brevirostris from the 

 Arctic coast of Siberia west to Cape Yakan, where they were seen 

 until September 8. One was taken at Cape Lisburne, Alaska, in 

 May, 1885. The only authentic eggs known were taken at Pavloff 

 Bay, on the Alaskan Peninsula. 



Winter range. Mainly along the Asiatic coast, from Kamtschatka 

 to Kurile Islands. 



Egg dates. Pavloff Mountain, Alaska: 2 records, May 29 and 

 June 10. 



Brachyramphus hypoleucus (Xantus) 

 XANTUS'S MURRELET 



HABITS 



This white-breasted murrelet is now well known as a fairly com- 

 mon bird about the rocky islands from southern California along the 

 west coast of Lower California at least as far as Magdalena Bay. Its 

 discoverer, Mr. Xantus, found it as far south as Cape San Lucas in 

 1859 and Mr. J. G. Cooper found it breeding as far north as Santa 

 Barbara Island in 1863. Mr. A. B. Howell has sent me the follow- 

 ing notes on its present distribution in southern California: 



This species was discovered breeding on Los Coronados Islands, Mexico, by 

 A. van Rossem April 7, 1908. A few years ago they were very rare in this local- 

 ity, but at present are almost abundant. Their case is somewhat similar on 

 Santa Barbara and Anacapa Islands, California, for at the latter place during 

 May, 1913, Mr. van Rossem found them to be fairly common. Hence it would 

 seem that the species is increasing in numbers at the northern end of its range. 

 The presence of foxes on the larger islands of southern California precludes 

 them from breeding on these, but I believe that they may breed on whatever 

 islets near them offer suitable conditions. 



Los Coronados Islands, one of the principal breeding places of 

 Xantus's murrelet, are briefly described by Mr. Howard W. Wright 

 (1909), as follows: 



These islands are located about 15 miles south of San Diego. There are 

 three main islands: North, Middle, and South. Their names indicate their 

 position. They are very high and rugged, the highest being 672 feet and about 

 a mile long. The only good harbor, and that only suitable for small craft, is 

 the little bay on the northeast side of South Island in which we anchored. 

 There is no water on these islands. Consequently, there is little vegetation 

 cactus and ice plant being the most abundant, though there was some kind of 

 a scraggly bush scattered throughout. 



Nesting. Mr. HowelPs notes refer to the nesting habits of the 

 species on these islands as follows: 



Hypoleueus begins to lay about the middle of March, and I have found well- 

 incubated eggs as late as July 11, so it would seem that two sets each year is the 

 rule. The favorite nesting site is a cranny among loose bowlders, but nearly as 

 frequently one finds them back under a rock where it was necessary for them 

 to scratch away a little of the loose dirt in order to gain entrance. Dark pockets 



