286 ZOOLOGY. 



mallards. The present bird dives with quickness and facility, and in this manner, like many 

 others of its class, it endeavors to escape when wounded. There are several bare rocks pro- 

 jecting out of the water off the mouth of Hood's Canal, which, during the summer and early 

 fall, are much resorted to by these birds, who at this season appear to be gregarious. They 

 sit on the rocks during the middle of the day — many of them almost motionless — apparently 

 resting after the fatigue of the morning's feed. At the approach of a gunner they show a little 

 apprehension, but, as a general rule, do not fly until at least one discliarge is fired. They 

 then make for some other point, or alight in the water at a distance. Individuals or small 

 companies of two or three desultorily return in a short time, and can generally be readily 

 killed. If wounded, and the bird falls in the water, it usually displays as great dexterity in 

 diving and other manreuvres to escape death or captivity as any one of the group. 



During the spring months and the breeding season the}^ are partially gregarious, being 

 frequently found in small companies of four or five individuals. — S. 



The black guillemot is a common resident in Puget Sound and the waters northward. It 

 burrows holes several feet deep in the sandy cliffs, at heights of from 20 to 200 feet above the 

 water, the entrance being within two feet of the top of the ground, and the burrow winding 

 horizontally inwards. I was not there when they had eggs or young, but from their frequently 

 flying in and out in March I suppose that they were preparing to lay. The young are fledged 

 in August, and are then caught by the Indians by digging down to the nest. This bird has 

 got the name of "bank duck" from the settlers there. — C. 



BRACHYRAMPHUS MARMORATUS, (Gmelin,) "Brandt." 



Colymbus murmoraius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 583. 



Vria toicnsendii, Aid. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 251, pi. 430.— Townsend, Narrative, 1839, 352. 



Brachyramphui marmoratus, Baied & Cassin, Gen. Kep. Birds, 915. 



Figures.— Latli. Gen. Syn. VI, pi. 96.— Pennant, Arc. Zool. II, pi. 22.— And. B. of Am. pi. 430 ; oct. ed. VII, pi. 475. 



Sp Ch. — Small ; bill slender, distinctly notched near the end ; frontal feathers advancing upon it to near half its length. 

 Wings short ; tail very short ; legs .and feet short and weak. Entire upper parts brownish black, tinged with ashy on the 

 back. Scapular feathers white, forming two conspicuous spots on each side of the back ; ring around the back of the neck 

 white. Under parts white ; under wing coverts dark ashy brown ; longitudinal stripes on the side ashy brown ; bill black ; 

 feet yellow. 



Toungtr: Upper parts brownish black, with the feathers tipped and edged with dull reddish ; under parts spotted and 

 marbled with brownish black and white. 



A small guillemot, apparently of this species, I have seen quite abundant on the waters of 

 Puget Sound during the winter season. They were quite active, and dived with as much facility 

 apparently as the grebes, but seemed not to have the power of staying under as long, or of 

 traversing such a distance beneath the surface as birds of the latter group, I obtained a single 

 specimen, which, having been brought to me dead, threw no additional light upon the history 

 of the species. — S. 



This bird, in winter, remains in the bays in considerable numbers. In summer it probably 

 frequents the ocean only, as I have frequently seen what I supposed to be this bird all the way 

 southward to San Francisco. It often starts from under the bow or paddle wheels of the steamers 

 and flies rapidly a short distance before plunging again. Where it breeds I never could ascertain, 

 but think it is not anywhere in Puget Sound. 



Length, 10^; extent, 18|. Iris brown; bill and feet black. 



