286 
ZOOLOGY. 
mallards. The present bird dives with quickness and facility, and in this manner, like many 
others of its class, it endeavors to escape when wounded. There are several bare rocks pro¬ 
jecting out of the water off the mouth of Hood’s Canal, which,_ during the summer and early 
fall, are much resorted to by these birds, who at this season appear to be gregarious. They 
sit on the rocks during the middle of the day—many of them almost motionless—apparently 
resting after the fatigue of the morning’s feed. At the approach of a gunner they show a little 
apprehension, but, as a general rule, do not fly until at least one discharge is fired. They 
then make for some other point, or alight in the water at a distance. Individuals or small 
companies of two or three desultorily return in a short time, and can generally be readily 
killed. If wounded, and the bird falls in the water, it usually displays as great dexterity in 
diving and other manoeuvres to escape death or captivity as any one of the group. 
During the spring months and the breeding season they are partially gregarious, being 
frequently found in small companies of four or five individuals.—S. 
The black guillemot is a common resident in Puget Sound and the waters northward. It 
burrows holes several feet deep in the sandy cliffs, at heights of from 20 to 200 feet above the 
water, the entrance being within two feet of the top of the ground, and the burrow winding 
horizontally inwards. I was not there when they had eggs or young, but from their frequently 
flying in and out in March I suppose that they were preparing to lay. The young are fledged 
in August, and are then caught by the Indians by digging down to the nest. This bird has 
got the name of “bank duck” from the settlers there.—C. 
BRACHYRAMPHUS MARMORATUS, (Gmelin,) “Brandt.” 
Colymbus marmoralus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 583. 
TJria toionsendii, Aud. Orn. Biog. Y, 1839, 251, pi. 430.— Townsend, Narrative, 1839, 352. 
Brachyramphus marmoratus, Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 915. 
Figures —Lath. Gen. Syn. VI, pi. 96.—Pennant, Arc. Zool. II, pi. 22.—Aud. B. of Am pi. 430; oct. ed. VII, pi. 475. 
Sp. Ch. —Small; bill slender, distinctly notched near the end; frontal feathers advancing upon it to near half its length. 
Wings short; tail very short; legs and feet short and weak. Entire upper parts brownish black, tinged with ashy on the back. 
Scapular feathers white, forming two conspicuous spots on each side of the back; ring around the back of the neck white. 
Under parts white; under wing coverts dark ashy brown; longitudinal stripes on the side ashy brown; bill black ; feet yellow. 
Younger: Upper parts brownish black, with the feathers tipped and edged with dull reddish ; under parts spotted and marbled 
with brownish black and white. 
A small guillemot, apparently of tbis species, I have seen quite abundant on the waters of 
Puget Sound during the winter season. They were quite active, and dived with as much facility 
apparently as the grebes, but seemed not to have the power of staying under as long, or of 
traversing such a distance beneath the surface as birds of the latter group. I obtained a single 
specimen, which, having been brought to me dead, threw no additional light upon the history 
of the species.—S. 
This bird, in winter, remains in the bays in considerable numbers. In summer it probably 
frequents the ocean only, as I have frequently seen w T hat I supposed to be this bird all the way 
southward to San Francisco. It often starts from under the bow or paddle wheels of the steamers 
and flies rapidly a short distance before plunging again. Where it breeds I never could ascer¬ 
tain, but think it is not anywhere in Puget Sound. 
Length, 9.75; extent, 17.75. Iris brown; bill black; feet pale flesh color, with bluish webs. 
