LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS. 153 



Mr. L. M. Huey writes me that — 



The murrelet has a few chattering notes when changing shifts on the eggs, as 

 one near my bed this season was watched two days ; the other bird would ap- 

 pear just after dark with a whirring of wings and a little chatter, and this 

 same performance would take place just before dawn. They apparently do not 

 fly all the way from the feeding grounds as a call, I am sure to be made by 

 these birds, is heard constantly after dark very near the islands, a sort of roll- 

 ing whistle, very shrill and clear. 



FaU. — The fall migration is not well marked and is but little 

 more than a wandering away from the breeding grounds, both north- 

 ward and southward, to spend the winter over a wider range, the 

 limits of which are not weU known. The species has been taken as 

 far north as Monterey and as far south as Cape San Lucas. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — ^From the islands off the coast of southern Cali- 

 fornia (Santa Barbara and Anacapa Islands) southward on islands 

 along the Lower California coast (Los Coronados, Todos Santos, 

 San Martin, San Geronimo, and San Benitos Islands) as far as Mag- 

 dalena Bay. Although the type came from Cape San Lucas, the 

 species does not appear to breed there nor has it been recently ob- 

 served in that locality. 



Winter range. — ^The species is largely resident throughout its 

 range, but there appears to be a northward movement after the breed- 

 ing season. At Point Pinos, California, they winter ; arriving July 

 29 and remaining until February 25 ; a single pair seen April 25. 



Egg dates. — Coronados Islands: 41 records, March 30 to July 6; 

 21 records, May 27 to June 17. Santa Barbara Islands: 6 records, 

 May 12 to June 15 ; 3 records. May 25 to 29. San Benitos Islands : 

 4 records, March 10, 28, and 30 and July 27. 



BRACHYBAMPHUS CRAVERI (Salvadori). 



CBAVEBI'S MTTBRELET. 



HABITS. 



The murrelets of the Cape San Lucas region so closely resemble 

 those found breeding farther north on the Pacific coast of Lower 

 Califoi-nia that much doubt has been expressed as to the validity of 

 this species, and many theories have been advanced as to the true 

 relationship of Brachyramphus hypoleucus and B. craveri. "Without 

 attempting to rehearse the history of the discussion or to enter into 

 details I will merely say that it seems to have been firmly established 

 that the two forms are distinct; certainly they are at least subspe- 

 cifically separable, and perhaps we are fully justified in regarding 

 them, as we now do, as distinct species. Mr. William Brewster 



