The Xantus Murrelet 
where broken by fish or bird. Ahead are two dark specks—we change 
our course so as to pass within fifty feet. They do not allow so close an 
approach. There is the flap, flap, flap of their sturdy little wings on the 
water and they are in full flight, barely skimming the surface. Now we 
see the white breast, becoming more distinct as they characteristically 
cross our bows, and we have positively identified the Xantus Murrelet. 
They soon alight and resume their search for food. It is sometimes 
to be found on the surface, sometimes 
to be obtained by diving. It is then 
that the small loon-like wings be¬ 
come useful,— the wings which, 
though they enable the bird to at¬ 
tain tremendous speed in flight, can¬ 
not launch it from the ground. Once 
under water the feet are little used; 
it is these short heavily muscled 
wings with which it propels itself. 
If we wish to see it at rest, we 
must follow it to its breeding grounds 
on one of the islands and be pre¬ 
pared to make a diligent search. 
We go to a known colony but not a 
bird is to be seen. On guard is the 
deadliest of falcons, the red demon 
of the sky from whom there is no escape. So we climb and crawl over 
rough and crumbling rock, through thick scrubs, up and down the steepest 
inclines, until, under the face of a weathered sandstone cliff, we find some 
broken egg shells—shells of a light tan color, spotted with lavender and 
brown. 
These are from a past season. But this Murrelet has a well-marked 
habit of returning to former nesting holes, so we scan the cliff for a 
likely crevice. Eight feet above our heads the soft stone has weathered. 
We climb to where we can look in, and there, five feet into the recess, 
sits a small black bird. 
We know we have found the colony so we begin a systematic search 
of the ravine, from the water’s edge to the top of the island, six hundred 
feet above the sea. The sites the birds choose are almost endless in 
variety; what they demand is some natural hollow into which they may 
crawl and be in the dark. This is usually found in soft rock; it matters 
little to the birds whether on an imposing precipice or in a jutting rock 
two or three feet high. Often a cave, large or small, will suit, especially 
a remote corner where the roof is but a few inches from the floor. Often 
Taken on Anacapa Island Photo by Dickey 
XANTUS MURRELET CHICK 
1491 
