278 CALIFORNIA BIRD STUDIES 



American Ornithologists' Union, lias fortunately forbidden 

 egg-collecting on the Farallones. 



When undisturbed, Murres perch on the rocks with their 

 dark backs toward the sea, a fact well illustrated by the 

 telephoto of a Murre-covered pinnacle, made at so great a 

 distance that the birds were not alarmed. One does not 

 realize at first, therefore, the astounding abundance of these 

 birds. 



They were especially numerous on the less accessible 

 cliffs and pinnacles, and on the islets off-shore they were 

 often so thickly massed that a new comer could with difficul- 

 ty find a foothold. Thousands lived in the wave-washed 

 caverns where, when alarmed, their white breasts gleamed 

 like lights in the gloom; a queer little cave people, bobbing 

 and bowing and muttering in a tongue of their own. 



When one appeared at the entrance of their subterra- 

 nean home, there was a rush for the outer world. Some 

 birds flew past one, through the air, and the wise man gave 

 them free passage ; others flew below one, under the water, 

 where the action of their wings could be plainly seen. 



Wards of the Government, the Farallone Murres might 

 be envied among birds, were it not for the presence in their 

 nesting resort of the Western Gull, a species closely allied 

 to our common Herring, or Harbor Gull. 



Never have I seen more relentless, brazen, destructive 

 enemies of bird-life than these immaculate, snowy-breasted, 

 pearl-backed birds. Second in number only to the Murres, 

 they were especially abundant at the western end of the 

 island, where, when walking, a great band of cackling Gulls 

 always hung over one, waiting to dart down on the eggs of 

 Murres or Cormorants, from which the owners flew as we 

 approached. The nests of a large colony of Brandt's Cor- 

 morants were quickly emptied of their contents in this man- 

 ner, the apparently famished Gulls dashing into nests 

 almost at one's feet. The greenish eggs of Murres are not 

 so conspicuous as the white Cormorant eggs and, being laid 



