186 THE CONDOR Vol,. XI Phalaropes, Curlew, Spotted Sandpipers, and some other waders were seen in migration. The Western Gulls (Zarus occidentalis) were scattered out, breeding on the small islands and detacht portions of the bluff. The largest colony found did not number over twenty-five pairs, and frequently only one pair would be breeding on a rock. We noticed that the nests built on the soil among the weeds and grass were rather flimsy in construction; while those built on the bare rock were bulky and well made. The commonest breeding water-bird was the Baird Cormorant (]?halacrocorax pelagicus resplendens) which was abundant on the mainland cliffs as well as on the steep sides of the small islands. Some of the nests of this species were easy to reach while others were practically inaccessible. The number of eggs laid was from two to four, generally three or four. Several colonies of Brandt Cormorandts (Phalacrocorax penicillalus)were found on flat-topt rocky islands. In one such colony 81 nests containing eggs were examined. Three of these contained five eggs each, the others mostly con- taining four which is, I believe, the usual complement. After watching these two species of cormorants at their nest-building we concluded that the moss composing the lining of the nests is all brought up from deep water, as the birds could be seen energetically diving for it in the deeper water altho it was plentiful in the shallows and on the .rocks. As to the breeding plumage of these two species, from our observations it is not nearly complete when incubation is begun. In four specimens of the Brandt Cormorant which I took with half-i?acubated eggs, the filaments on the sides of the throat were so small as to be practically unnoticeabte altho 'those on the back were well developt. In three breeding specimens of 'the Baird Cormorant taken, the filaments on sides of neck have not c?evelopt; while in one female taken on the nest, the white flank patches 'are absent. The Sea Pigeons (Cepphtts columba)commenced to breed the first week in May; and by May 20 their breeding season was at its hight. Their eggs were deposited in crevices in the sides and .roofs of caves some of which could be entered dry-shod at low tide. The nesting burrows were from six to fifteen feet above 'high water. The eggs were generally 'twoin 'number, and were laid on the dirt which accumulated in the nest cavity. In two cases I found birds incubating one egg. From one of these nests I took the female bird and found on dissection that she had finisht laying; so I believe that occasionally only one egg is laid. If the'first set is taken, the birds will usually lay a'seeo'nd set in the same 'nest. The birds when disturbed give a peculiar whistle which resembles that of the male Anna Humming- bird in mating time, .and seems singularly ?out of place coming from a bird of the size of the Guillemot. Altho I took several eggs of the Tufted Puffin (Lunda cirrhala) in this locality in 1895, only a few pairs were noticed this year. They were evidently breeding on a rocky island about three-fourths of a mile out, as we watcht them thru a glass going and coming from their nesting burrows. As no boat was obtain- able and the water was too rough for so long a swim we were unable to inspect the nests. The rarest of the breeding water-birds in this locality, and the one in which we were most interested, was the Black Oystercatcher ([-[aernalopus bac/?rnani). Along this fifteen miles of coast there were'probably a dozen pairs breeding. The nests are difficult to locate, and even more difficult to reach after they are located. This bird, like the Killdeer, makes the greatest outcry at a point considerably dis- tant from the nest, and the brooding bird will quietly slip from the nest at the first
