. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Xantus Murrelet If a heavy wind brings white-caps too close, it dives into and through the waves, emerging in the trough. And it is here that one of the trag- edies of its life is enacted. At the times of the real south-easters, when day after day the sea is piled mountain high and the tiny prey seeks stiller and deeper waters, then many a poor murrelet, weak from hunger, faces a struggle with the elements that calls for every reserve of vitali
. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Xantus Murrelet If a heavy wind brings white-caps too close, it dives into and through the waves, emerging in the trough. And it is here that one of the trag- edies of its life is enacted. At the times of the real south-easters, when day after day the sea is piled mountain high and the tiny prey seeks stiller and deeper waters, then many a poor murrelet, weak from hunger, faces a struggle with the elements that calls for every reserve of vitality and endurance. The bodies strewn upon the beaches after every big storm bear evidence of the number that have failed. But on a typical summer day it rests on the glassy surface, rising and falling with the gentle swell. With its mate, or perhaps a small family group, it searches for the marine invertebrates on which it feeds. Sometimes one bird, or both, disappears for a moment, attracted by food a few feet below. If disturbed or frightened it flies, not far, not straight, but with surprising velocity, curving until it again drops into the water. Its range is the vicinity of the southern California islands. From the Santa Barbara group on the north, straggling as far as Monterey Bay, it is the only resident murrelet to be found until it meets its cousin, the craveri. Their point of intergradation is somewhat indeterminate, but probably occurs about four hundred miles below the California- Mexican boundary, in the vicinity of Cedros Island. Sixty years ago two specimens of the Xantus were taken near Cape San Lucas, but the use of that record in describing the present day distribution would be misleading. Within its area it is likely to be confused with only two other birds. The Ancient Murrelet, which often comes down in mid-win- ter, is decidedly larger, and has fourteen rec- trices instead of twelve. The Cassin Auklet is slightly smaller, but its breast is a brownish grey i
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
