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 
