LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS. 149 
refer to this species. Thayer and Bangs record brevirostris from the 
Arctic coast of Siberia west to Cape Yakan, where they were seen 
until September 8. One was taken at Cape Lisburne, Alaska, in 
May, 1885. The only authentic eggs known were taken at Pavloff 
Bay, on the Alaskan Peninsula. 
Winter range—Mainly along the Asiatic coast, from Kamtschatka 
to Kurile Islands. 
Egg dates—Pavloff Mountain, Alaska: 2 records, May 29 and 
June 10. 
BRACHYRAMPHUS HYPOLEUCUS Xantus. 
XANTUS’S MURRELET. 
HABITS. 
This white-breasted murrelet is now well known as a fairly com- 
mon bird about the rocky islands from southern California along the 
west coast of Lower California at least as far as Magdalena Bay. Its 
discoverer, Mr. Xantus, found it as far south as Cape San Lucas in 
1859 and Mr. J. G. Cooper found it breeding as far north as Santa 
Barbara Island in 1863. Mr. A. B. Howell has sent me the follow- 
ing notes on its present distribution in southern California: 
This species was discovered breeding on Los Coronados Islands, Mexico, by 
A. van Rossem April 7, 1908. A few years ago they were very rare in this local- 
ity, but at present are almost abundant. Their case is somewhat similar on 
Santa Barbara and Anacapa Islands, California, for at the latter place during 
May, 1913, Mr. van Rossem found them to be fairly common. Hence it would 
seem that the species is increasing in numbers at the northern end of its range. 
The presence of foxes on the larger islands of southern California precludes 
them from breeding on these, but I believe that they may breed on whatever 
islets near them offer suitable conditions, 
Los Coronados Islands, one of the principal breeding places of 
Xantus’s murrelet, are briefly described by Mr. Howard W. Wright 
(1909), as follows: 
These islands are located about 15 miles south of San Diego. There are 
three main islands: North, Middle, and South. Their names indicate their 
position, They are very high and rugged, the highest being 672 feet and about 
a mile long. The only good harbor, and that only suitable for small craft, is 
the little bay: on the northeast side of South Island in which we anchored. 
There is no water on these islands. Consequently, there is little vegetation— 
eactus and ice plant being the most abundant, though there was some kind of 
a scraggly bush scattered throughout. 
Nesting.—Mr. Howell’s notes refer to the nesting habits of the 
species on these islands as follows: 
Hypoleueus begins to lay about the middle of March, and I have found well- 
incubated eggs as late as July 11, so it would seem that two sets each year is the 
rule. The favorite nesting site is a cranny among loose bowlders, but nearly as 
frequently one finds them back under a rock where it was necessary for them 
to scratch away a little of the loose dirt in order to gain entrance. Dark pockets 
