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. 
Fall—tThe 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 well 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. 
BRACHYRAMPHUS CRAVERI (Salvadori). 
CRAVERI’S MURRELET, 
HABITS. 
The murrelets of the Cape San Lucas region so closely resemble 
those found breeding farther north on the Pacific coast of Lower 
California 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 
