DIVING BIRDS 37 



BRUNNICH'S MURRE 



Brunnich's JNIurre ranges through the islands and along 

 the coast of the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans. 



IMurres are aquatic birds and, like the auks and puffins, 

 are eminently gregarious. This species is the only variety 

 that reaches the interior of North America, as occasionally 

 specimens are obserA'ed on the Great Lakes, where they 

 have evidentlj' strayed out of their course, perhaps have 

 been carried from the sea coast by inclement weather. These 

 birds are found usually on the Atlantic Coast from New 

 York northward to the Arctic regions. IMurres inhabit the 

 islands throughout the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Asia 

 and Europe. 



In Europe they are robbed of their eggs for food. Each 

 female deposits the single egg on the bare rocks, often 

 without any protection from the elements. The eggs are 

 remarkably well adapted to their surroundings, as they are 

 thick-shelled, long and pointed, so that when disturbed the 

 eggs do not roll off the cliffs, but simply describe the arc of 

 a circle. Hundreds of birds may be found incubating within 

 a radius of one hundred yards, sitting peaceably side by side 

 in their congested quarters. 



The eggs show marked variations; some are green with 

 large black markings, others are pure white, still others are 

 j'cUow with chocolate scrawls. This great variation in 

 coloration may enable each bird to recognize her own egg. 

 Clouds of birds may be seen circling not far from some huge 

 rugged rocks jutting out into the raging sea, while uttering 



