to the Guillemots, but are larger,
being about 16 inches in length. Entire head and neck sooty brown; rest
of upper parts grayish black except the tips of the secondaries which
are white. Under parts white. These birds nest by thousands on Bird Rock
and on the cliffs of Labrador. They build no nests but simply lay their
single egg on the narrow ledges of cliffs, where the only guarantee
against its rolling off is its peculiar shape which causes it, when
moved, to revolve about its smaller end instead of rolling off the
ledge. The eggs are laid as closely as possible on the ledges where the
incubating birds sit upright, in long rows like an army on guard. As
long as each bird succeeds in finding an egg to cover, on its return
home, it is doubtful if they either know or care whether it is their own
or not. The ground color of the eggs vary from white to a deep greenish
blue and the markings of blackish brown vary in endless patterns, some
eggs being almost wholly unspotted. Size 3.40 x 2.00. Data.--South
Labrador, June 19, 1884. Single egg laid on the bare cliff. Large colony
breeding. Collector, M. A. Grasar.

[Illustration 031: Murre.]
[Illustration: Pale bluish gray.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 30

30a. CALIFORNIA MURRE. _Uria troille californica._

Range.--Pacific Coast, breeding from the Farallones north to Alaska.

This Pacific form of the common Murre is the most abundant breeding bird
on the Farallones. Their eggs are used in enormous numbers for
commercial purposes and these islands being located, as they are, within
easy distance from San Francisco, thousands of dozens of the eggs are
sold yearly, chiefly to bakeries. Although continually robbed, their
numbers have not as yet diminished to any great extent. They lay but a
single egg on the bare ledge. Individual eggs are indistinguishable from
the last species but in a large series the ground color averages
brighter. They show the same great difference in color and markings. The
first set is laid in May, but owing to their being so often molested,
fresh eggs can be found during August. Data.--Farallones, July 4, 1895.
Single egg laid on bare cliff. Collector, Thos. E. Slevin.

31. BRUNNICH MURRE. _Uria lomvia lomvia._

Range.--North Atlantic Coast, breeding range the same as the common
Murre.

This species differs from the common Murre in having a shorter and
thicker bill, the base of the cutting edge of which is less feathered.
They b