LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS. 145 
California. It is particularly abundant in winter about Puget Sound 
and the straits and channels around Vancouver Island. Mr. Dawson 
(1909) has sketched a vivid picture of it in its winter home, from 
which I quote as follows: 
To be sure it is a bit chilly out and there are spiteful dabs of rain between 
whiles, but the forward deck is clear, for the helpless ones are crowded in the 
cabin. We may have the bow to ourselves and what a glorious company of 
sights and sounds there are about us. Every blue-gray wave has a voice, and 
the blue-gray wind tries every tone with its deft fingers. But there are those 
who enjoy the conflict of the storm even more than we. Above the whining 
of the waters and the crashing of the prow come shrill exultant cries, Meer- 
meer-meer-meer. The murrelets are in their element, and they shriek to each 
other across the dancing waters like Tritons at play. Perhaps association 
will partly account for it, but somehow the note of the marbled murrelet 
seems of itself to suggest piping gales and rugged cliffs beset by pounding 
surf. It is the articulate cry of the sea in a royal mood. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
Breeding range.—Coasts and islands of the North Pacific. From 
the eastern Aleutian Islands (Unalaska Island) along the coast of 
southern Alaska (Kodiak Island, Prince Williams Sound, and 
Sitkan district) and south along the coast of British Columbia 
(Queen Charlotte Islands, and Vancouver Island) to northwestern 
Washington (Puget Sound region). This is the summer distribu- 
tion and the species is assumed to breed within this range. Prob- 
ably Bering Sea should be included, but records are not conclusive. 
Dunham reports eggs take near Nome, Alaska. Also said to breed 
in the Kurile Islands. 
Winter range—Southward from British Columbia (Burrard In- 
let, Departure Bay, and Barkley Sound) and Washington (Puget 
Sound) to California (San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey 
Bay, and Santa Barbara). 
Spring migration.—Birds were noted at Point Pinos, California, 
flying northward, late in February and through March, the last 
seen April 2. In southeastern Alaska one was shot on Frederick 
Sound, April 10, and several were seen April 17 at Admiralty Island. 
Fall migration—A bird was taken near Nushagak (north of the 
Alaska Peninsula) on September 5, and several supposed to be 
marbled murrelets seen on Kanatak Bay as late as October 18. In 
the Prince William Sound region the last specimen was taken 
August 18, while they remained common on Baranof Island, Sitkan 
district, until August 27. One was taken in Sitka Bay, October 2. 
Off Point Pinos, California, the first migrants were taken June 22, 
1907 (adult) and June 29, 1907 (immature). In 1894 they first ap- 
peared early in July. At Santa Barbara a bird was found dead 
July 30. 
