The California Murre 



it's easy to fly, and it's easy to sail, but Mother Earth is jealous of such 

 defection, and we dare not return too suddenly to her bosom. The dread 

 of a bad landing haunts the most seasoned sea-farer, as the pangs of ap- 

 proaching maternity haunt a woman; but once the travail is past, there 



THE ANCIENT STRONGHOLD OF THE RACE 



BREEDING LEDGES OF CALIFORNIA MURRES ON THE NORTH SLOPES OF THE SOUTHEAST FARALLON 

 BRANDT CORMORANTS IN THE FOREGROUND 



Phoio by the Author 



is no joy like the joy of ornithological conquest on a sea-girt isle. The 

 Murres come first in interest, and intent upon the Murre ledges we hasten 

 by the clamoring gulls or crowd through a colony of croaking shags. At 

 its best a Murre ledge presents a solid mass of birds, for the males spend 

 much time ashore in company with their mates. Upon approach, how- 

 ever, the males detach themselves and resume anxious circlings in the 



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