The California Murre 



Distribution in California. — Common resident on the ocean, usually well off 

 shore. Breeds in large numbers on the Farallons; in lesser numbers south to Prince 

 Islet off San Miguel, and upon the rocks of Humboldt and Del Norte counties. South 

 in winter at least to Newport Beach .Orange County (van Rossem). 



Authorities. — Newberry ( Uria troile), Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. vi., 1857, 

 p. no (Farallon Islands); H. Bryant, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. viii., 1861, 

 p. 142 (Catarractes califomicus, orig. desc. ; type locality, Farallon Islands) ; W.E.Bryant, 

 Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. 2, i., 1888, p. 31 (Farallon Ids.; breeding habits, etc.); van 

 Rossem, Condor, vol. xvi., 1914, p. 144 (Newport Beach, Orange Co.; southernmost 

 record station). 



THE AUK-TRIBE is an ancient race which has long occupied 

 northern waters. Although circumpolar in distribution, its two centers of 

 abundance lie in the North Pacific and the North Atlantic, respectively, 

 with a present showing of twenty breeding species (and subspecies) for 

 the former and six for the latter. This leaves three forms Alle alle, 

 Cepphus mandti, and Fratercula arctica naumanni as exclusively Arctic 

 breeders. And if the Atlantic should boast the former grandeur of the 

 Great Auk, Plautus impennis, whom hungry sailors slew, the Pacific is 

 able to point with pride to Mancalla californiensis Lucas, of Los Angeles, 

 a Miocene Alcad of equal height and girth — and helplessness; for it, too, 

 was flightless. But, indeed, who living in Los Angeles would care for 

 wings? 



The name of California, viz., calif ornica, likewise attaches to the 

 Pacific representative of the Old World Murre, Uria troille. The reputa- 

 tion of this bird has been so largely made on the Farallon Islands, that 

 we are likely to forget that the species enjoys a fairly uniform distribution 

 from the northernmost of the Channel Islands, viz., Prince Island, north 

 to the rocks in Norton Sound, Alaska. 



As we approach one of these lesser citadels, some gaunt fastness which 

 the sea birds have known for ages as home, our presence will not pass 

 unnoticed. Scouting puffins, shags, and gulls will have reported us un- 

 favorably to their waiting companions; while the Black Oyster-catcher, 

 that prince of yellow journalists, will have published a lurid account of 

 our misdoings, when as yet we are a hundred yards removed. Conspicuous 

 among the anxious, hurrying throng which expects our approach, are 

 bevies of California Murres, swifter of pace and more graceful in motion 

 than either puffins or cormorants; and they go hurtling about without 

 apparent object other than to maintain their share of the general excite- 

 ment. 



The Murres, however, are easily satisfied, and will soon return to 

 their ledges to await our more particular inspection. Whether we land 

 from skiff, launch, or canoe, the landing will engage all our attention. For 



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