116 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 47H SER. 
New scapulars and interscapulars are blackish brown, mar- 
gined with brownish gray. In some instances the lower eyelid 
is more or less white. Many specimens have gray or grayish 
white filoplumes on the occiput and some have them also on 
the auriculars and cervix. 
It should be borne in mind that the brown aspect increases 
with wear, gray assuming a brownish shade and blackish 
brown becoming wholly brown. A description of this species 
should therefore cover both fresh and faded plumages. Abra- 
sion in the dark phase eliminates the terminal white and lessens 
the subterminal gray of the feathers of the fore-neck, giving it 
at first a darker, and afterwards a lighter appearance. 
A peculiarly significant example of melanism is found in a 
female of this species (No. 18691 Mus. Vertebr. Zool. U. C.) 
taken at Monterey Bay, California, December 19, 1910, by Mr. 
R. H. Beck. The entire lower surface is mouse gray, whiten- 
ing toward the bases of the feathers and deepening super- 
ficially on the fore-neck, malar region, and sides of neck and 
body—areas of intensity of color in the dark phase. The 
under coverts of the wings and the axillaries are mouse gray, 
varying in tone. There is no departure from the normal col- 
oration on the upper parts, and the size and proportions con- 
form throughout with ordinary specimens. The dimensions 
are as follows: Wing about 240 mm.; tail 75; culmen 37.2; 
depth of upper mandible 8.4; width of upper mandible 13.4; 
tarsus 45; middle toe and claw 54. That dichromatism in the 
Tubinares had its origin in melanism is strongly suggested by 
this specimen (see plates 15, 17). Another example of 
melanism occurs in a male Murre (No. 18072 C. A. S.) ob- 
tained by Mr. John Rowley on Southeast Farallon Island, 
California, on May 30, 1911. In this specimen the jugulum, 
breast, and sides are fuscous and all the under coverts of the 
wings are deep mouse gray (plate 16). ; 
No. 22013 Carnegie Mus., June 28, 1897, is in worn double- 
down. . Both segments are mouse gray in color, becoming 
lighter on the median lower parts of the body. No. 22012 
Carnegie Mus., June 28, 1897, is going out of the natal down. 
The scapulars, primaries, secondaries, and wing-coverts are 
emerging from the sheath and definitive feathers are appearing 
on the lower parts at the base of the secondary down. In 
coloration it agrees with the preceding specimen. 
