BIRD ROOK 



175 



most exjiosed situations f and seeing tliem now for 

 the first time in Nature, I was (pite willing to accept 

 the theory which has been advanced to account for 

 their markedly toplike or pearlike shape. A round 

 or elliptical egg, laid in the situations often chosen 

 by the Murres, 

 w o u 1 d , w h e ii 

 moved by the 

 wind or incubat- 

 ing bird, readily 

 roll from its pre- 

 carious position, 

 but the ijointed 

 egg of the Murre 

 when disturbed 

 describes a circle 

 about its own end. 

 Thus, like a dip- 

 lomat, it seeming- 

 ly yields to supe- 

 rior force while 

 retaining its orig- 

 inal position. The 



eggs vary in color from greenish blue to buff, and 

 are strikingly scrawled and blotched with shades 

 of chocolate. No two are alike, a fact which it is 

 supposed may aid the jjarent Murre in distinguish- 

 ing her own egg among the dozens with which it 

 may be placed. 



The few eggs seen were doubtless laid by birds 

 which had been robbed earlier in the season, but 

 young were found in every stage, from the newly 

 hatched downy chick,™ who sat on his narrow ledge 



Yduuir Murres and egg. 



./St 



