An Albino Murre
An Albino Murre.In the last week of August, 1949, an oil-soaked, but living albino Murre (Uti aalge californica) was found on the shore at Dillon Beach, Marin County, California. The bird was found by Mr. Jack Copsey of the Pacific Marine Station and sent to me in Stockton. It died en route, but when examined the bill was noted to be much lighter than that of typical murres and the feet and eyes were pink. No dark feathers were found after the bird had been washed in carbon tetrachloride to remove the oil. The bird, a female, is now number 794 in the collection of the author.
Dr. Robert W. Storer of the Museum of Zoology of the University of Michigan has studied this murre and is of the opinion that the measurements and the form of the bill indicate that it was a bird of the year. Dr. Storer also commented that it is the only albino specimen of the species that he has seen.-JOHN R. ARNOLD, College of the Pacific, Stockton, California, February 27, 1950.
