Reports of Field Agents 423 



previous to August 2, the date I discovered the colony. In one cavity was a 

 dead female in breeding plumage. She had evidently been crushed to death 

 by a bear who in walking had caved in the burrow. In the nest-cavity, back 

 of the dead female, was a single dead young bird nearly full grown. From the 

 condition of the bodies, I should judge that the birds had been dead for at 

 least two weeks. It is probable that the eggs are laid in late May and early 

 June. The birds were plentiful on Sitka Bay during my entire stay. 

 Cepphus columba. Pigeon Guillemot. 



Very common, feeding in the kelp beds near the shore. Frequently seen 

 to enter and leave crevices in the cliffs and roofs of caves. Estimated number 

 of pairs nesting on the island, 150. 

 Uria troille californica. California Murre. 



About three hundred pairs were nesting on the floor of a large cave on the 

 southwest side of the island, from twenty to eighty feet above the water. 

 A few pairs were also nesting on a nearby cliff. On August i, I succeeded 

 in climbing up into the cave where the large colony was located and found 

 the rocky floor to be covered with downy young and eggs in different stages 

 of incubation. In many instances the eggs and young were lying in puddles 

 of mud and slime. Murres were plentiful all over Sitka Bay, following schools 

 of small fish. 

 Larus glaucescens. Glaucous- winged Gull. 



Nesting commonly in crevices in the rocks and among the grass on the 

 brows of the cUffs and on top of the smaller hills. Most of the nests contained 

 large young by August 2. During all the time I was on the island, I did not 

 see the Gulls robbing the nests of the other birds. It seems that this species 

 does not possess the thieving propensities of his southern relative, occidentalis . 

 I was considerably interested in observing the swimming-lessons given the 

 nearly grown young by the adult birds. In some cases where the young seemed 

 afraid to take to the water, they were shoved from the rocks by the old birds. 

 The old bird would then swim beside the young one, occasionally poking it 

 with her bill. I was unable to satisfy myself whether this was meant as a 

 caress or as punishment for poor swimming. Estimated number of pairs 

 nesting on the island, 300. 

 Oceanodroma furcata. Forked-tailed Petrel. 



This species, although much less plentiful than the next, was nesting in 

 some numbers. The burrows were dug on steep, grassy slopes, generally to a 

 depth of about three feet. They were exceedingly crooked, and in some instan- 

 ces the nest-cavity would be very close to the entrance. The nest itself was 

 rather a shallow affair, composed of rootlets and grass. One or two eggs on 

 the point of hatching were noted, but most of the nests contained young birds, 

 some of which were nearly full grown. The newly hatched young are covered 

 with thick gray down, except the throat and face, which are nearly naked. 

 On the back of the head is a tuft of down somewhat darker than that of the 



