The California Mur re 
approaches but distantly on the trail, they begin to fly and climb. Today, 
instead of passing by, I sat down to watch with 8-power binoculars. An 
egg lay temptingly upon the lower ledge and a gull soon settled to inves¬ 
tigate. He contemplated the prospect carefully and gave the egg a 
quick dab, which sent it rolling into a more convenient position. Then 
he struck the egg with his beak, broke it open where it lay, and proceeded 
to devour the delicious contents. Presently a Murre flew past and the 
gull flinched. Then the Murre returned, struck at him from behind, and 
put him to flight. Then she waddled to her own egg a foot or so away, 
and tucked it under her with show of satisfaction. The gull returned to a 
near-by perch but the sitting guillemot brandished her beak menacingly 
and the gull kept well out of reach of it. Other gulls were interested by 
this time and several tried a hand, knowing that the Murre was alone, 
but when it came to a showdown none dared to try conclusions. Then 
the first gull returned to his original feast, but another Murre came hurry¬ 
ing and tumbling down the ledge and made at the gull with such force 
that he quit instantly. The newcomer exhibited a proprietary interest in 
the broken egg, examined it carefully but did not touch it. Another Murre 
coming up to look was warned off with menacing gestures, but a third 
arriving at this juncture, gave the egg a hasty glance, seized it by a broken 
edge and tossed it up the ledge a foot or so. Then she waddled after it, 
tucked it under her and settled to the task of incubation as if nothing had 
gone wrong. There she sits even now, without giving evidence of dis¬ 
comfort. The first bird who examined the egg was evidently her mate, 
and when the gull returned once more he launched full at the robber and 
fairly knocked him oft the ledge.” 
If, then, the testimony as to the destructiveness of the Western Gull 
seems not altogether overpowering, there can be no doubt of the con¬ 
summate mischief wrought by the prevalence of crude oil. For two dec¬ 
ades now it has been the practice of oil-carrying ships, “tankers,” to 
heave to and clean out before entering the Golden Gate. To be sure the 
practice is illegal, but when does a great corporation stoop to regard so 
trifling a thing as the law? And if the necessity were explained to them, 
what average lot of sea-faring men would regard the welfare of a few bob¬ 
bing sea-fowl? Commerce is master and the interests of men are subsidiary. 
Well; the Murres are nearly done for. The birds must swim, and they 
must appear for breath upon the surface of the water, where the loathsome 
crude oil attaches itself like pitch to their immaculate plumage. It smears 
the belly, it engages the flight-feathers, it impedes action. The frightened 
bird drags itself ashore to cleanse its plumage. But all it succeeds in 
doing is to involve the alimentary canal in the slimy infection. Purging 
and starvation follow, and the lawless tankers have nearly made a bird¬ 
less waste of a region which was once a wonder of the scientific world. 
1506 
