. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. 28 BIRDS OF AMERICA Briinnich's Murre comes as near being like the Antarctic Penguins as any other North Amer- ican species. It is built primarily for swimming and diving, and is a poor walker, waddling awk- wardly in an upright position. Except as it may climb out of the cold water on a cake of ice, its only chance to exercise these poor gifts is during the short summer in the Far North on its breeding grounds. There the Murres, mingled with the other species, resort. Photo by H. K. Job Courtesy of Hougnton Mutiin Co. BRDNNICH'S MURRE Presently it
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. 28 BIRDS OF AMERICA Briinnich's Murre comes as near being like the Antarctic Penguins as any other North Amer- ican species. It is built primarily for swimming and diving, and is a poor walker, waddling awk- wardly in an upright position. Except as it may climb out of the cold water on a cake of ice, its only chance to exercise these poor gifts is during the short summer in the Far North on its breeding grounds. There the Murres, mingled with the other species, resort. Photo by H. K. Job Courtesy of Hougnton Mutiin Co. BRDNNICH'S MURRE Presently it will lift its egg onto its feet and hold it there for incubation to precipitous shores or rocky islands, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence away up to northern Greenland. I have visited the colony on Great Bird Rock, Magdalen Islands. Here, in June, I found them standing in rows on the narrow ledges of the cliff, usually with back to the sea, each bird holding between its legs one large pear- shaped egg. These eggs have very hard shells, and are so shaped that they roll in a circle, which helps to prevent their falling off the cliff. They are colored a great variety of tints of green, blue, buff, whitish, and are so variously marked that it is impossible to find any two alike. Usually the Murres crowd upon these ledges as thickly as they can find room to stand or squat. From these ledges they throw themselves with confident abandon, and, with exceedingly rapid wing beats, circle out over the sea and back again to the rock. Otherwise they alight on the water with rather a heavy splash, and are apt to dive forthwith. They can be seen here and there swimming about, distinguishable from Ducks bv the fact that their posterior part floats rather high — reminding one of the ancient ships as de- scribed by Vergil, with " lofty ; Their hoarse baritone voice is almost human, and they are supposed to say murre. When I first heard them on the rocky ledges close at hand, I was
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