CALIFORNIA WATER BIRDS. I99 



tion. After it had risen many Northern Phalaropes, chiefly 

 in small flocks, passed down the coast. Dark-bodied 

 Shearwaters were migrating in smaller numbers than on 

 the nth, and nearer to the land owing to the fog. There 

 was quite a flight of California Murres, especially after 

 the fog. A marked increase was noticeable in the size 

 and number of the flocks of California Brown Pelicans 

 coming into the bay in the morning from the direction of 

 Pt. Cypress. A Pomarine Jaeger was shot, and four 

 other Jaegers were seen. 



14th. There had evidently been a migratory move- 

 ment of adult Marbled Murrelets the night before or early 

 on the morning of the 14th, for many pairs were found 

 resting on the water between the Seaside Laboratory and 

 the buoy, from half a mile to a mile off shore, during 

 the forenoon. They did not attempt to fly, but dived to 

 escape pursuit. Only one was observed on wing. On 

 former occasions but very few had been seen upon the 

 water. Several of the pairs were secured. The birds 

 of each pair proved to be mated, one being a male and 

 the other a female. They displayed strong attachment 

 for each other. If one was shot the survivor would be- 

 gin to call and look anxiously about for its mate, or if 

 they became separated in diving, one would call and the 

 other respond as soon as they came to the surface. A 

 touching instance of fidelity occurred a few days before. 

 A female had been shot and the male followed the boat 

 as we returned to land, finally alighting near it and look- 

 ing toward us in evident distress called piteously. Only 

 three young Murrelets were noted. There was scarcely 

 any migration in California Murres or Northern Phala- 

 ropes. Quite a number of the former, however, were 

 on the water. But one Dark-bodied Shearwater was seen. 



But little migration was in progress on the 15th and 



