The California Mar re 
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 
ot 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 
Photo by the Author 
BREEDING LEDGES OF CALIFORNIA MURRES ON THE NORTH SLOPES OF THE SOUTHEAST FARALLON 
BRANDT CORMORANTS IN THE FOREGROUND 
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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