The Pigeon Guillemot 



formes. The Pigeon Guillemot finds its center of distribution from 

 Puget Sound northward ; nevertheless, it is of fairly general occurrence as 

 far south as the northern Channel Islands, and it has even been taken 

 by Cooper on San Clemente. 



The Guillemot is most in evidence in nesting time; and it enjoys a 

 more uniform distribution at this season than in winter, when there are 

 no local ties to bind it to a given stretch of water. The impression of 

 scarcity during winter is strengthened by the fact that at this season the 

 birds frequent the more open waters, where they avoid close approach, 

 whether by row-boat or steamer; and that they present a totally different 

 appearance. In winter they are clad for the most part in a suit of spectral 

 gray, which resolves itself, only upon close examination, into a definite 

 pattern, or mixture, of black and white. This plumage is taken on 

 in September, but is exchanged for the solid nuptial black (with white 

 wing patches) early in the spring — not infrequently by the middle of 

 February, and occasionally by the 20th of January. 



The birds are evidently proud of their "full dress" suits, and an en- 

 vious company of "grays" will gather about some vigorous young buck 

 who has come out in a new rig early in the season, and they will gape 

 mingled admiration and chagrin, while the lucky fellow "stands on his 

 tail" repeatedly with slowly fluttering wings. 



On the Channel Islands, which are more or less protected from the 

 prevailing winds which sweep the northern coast, the Pigeon Guillemots 

 are occupying their nesting caves by May, and fresh eggs have been taken 

 on Santa Barbara as early as May 15th. But on the Farallons and on 

 the northern coastal rocks eggs are seldom found before the first week 

 in June. With us, the birds have little need to provide artificial tunnels 

 in the earth, as is their habit further north, but they nest instead in any 

 available cranny from the water's edge to the summit of the cliff. On the 

 mainland and sea walls or on the larger islands, the birds see to it that 

 they are well out of reach of prowling foes. The water-worn caves of 

 Anacapa and Santa Cruz, dismal and dripping with moisture, are favorite 

 places of resort, eggs being placed on the floor or in any convenient cranny 

 on or in the sloping talus of the crumbling walls. A more typical situation 

 is provided by some isolated rock — as Prince Island — tenanted by several 

 sorts of sea birds. The crest of such a rock will be dominated by Western 

 Gulls, stern, rapacious, clamorous, but dignified and handsome withal. 

 A sloping side of the rock may be crowded with Brandt's Cormorants, 

 and a rocky shoulder by Farallon Cormorants. If the place presents 

 a sheer seawall, Baird Cormorants will occupy its tenuous knobs and 

 overhung ledges. Tufted Puffins to the number of scores or hundreds 

 will circle about like unquiet spirits, silent, but ever mindful of the single 



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