16 
AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS 
Mr. Preble, who found these murrelets common at Neah Bay, Wash¬ 
ington, reports that they were almost invariably seen in pairs and 
that they were difficult to approach, as they dived at the slightest 
alarm. 
25. Brachyramphus hypoleucus Xantus. Xantus Murrelet. 
Upper parts plain dark slaty; Tinder parts and lining of wing pure white. 
Length: 9.60-10.50, wing 4.50-5.25, bill .70-.80. 
Distribution. — Southern and Lower California from Santa Barbara 
Island to Cape St. Lucas. 
Mr. Grinnell writes from Los Angeles that this murrelet is fre¬ 
quently seen in the Santa Barbara Channel at all seasons. 
GENUS CEPPHUS. 
29. Cepphus columba Pall. Pigeon Guillemot. 
Bill black, straight, and slender, upper edge of nostril feathered; 
feet bright red in summer, pink in winter. 
Breeding plumage: black, except for large 
white patch on base of wing which half in¬ 
closes a black triangle. Winter plumage : 
wings and tail as in summer, rest of plum¬ 
age mainly white, varied above and some¬ 
times below with black. Young : similar to 
winter adults, but white of wings obscured 
by dusky, tips of quills marked with white. 
Length: 13-14, wing 6.90-7.30, bill 1.20-1.40. 
Distribution. — Coast of the Pacific from 
southern California to the Aleutian Islands, 
and to northern Japan. 
Eggs. — As found by Dr. Dali, 2, at the 
bottom of a hole under the rocks near the water’s edge. 
In Alaska Mr. Nelson found the pigeon guillemot one of the most 
abundant of the larger water birds, occurring wherever the coast 
was bordered by bold headlands or where there were precipitous 
islands. He says that their bright red legs and white wing patches 
make them very conspicuous. They are graceful swimmers and 
have the amusing habit of putting their heads under water and pad¬ 
dling along their headless bodies. 
Mr. Bryant, who has watched them at the Farallones, says that 
when at rest they squat like ducks on the rocks. Before brooding 
begins they often sit in groups, and when disturbed stand up, open 
their bills, and salute each other or their returning fellows with a 
whistling cry. 
GENUS URIA. 
30a. Uria troile californica (Bryant). California Murre. 
Bill narrow and slender, nostril concealed in feathers ; a deep groove in 
feathers back of eye. Breeding plumage: upper parts slaty or blackish, sec- 
