156 Natural History of the Farallones. ]ZOoE 
species, indicating the presence of a large rookery. The wind, 
which had been uncomfortably brisk inside the bay, left us almost 
entirely after we were well out to sea, and we were soon rolling — : 
aimlessly about on the broad ocean swells, with only an occasional 
puff of wind to make the sails flap. Thus we spent the rest of the 
day. The night was varied by a dense fog closing in around us, 
and the cheerful tones of an old tin fog-horn, with responses from _ ‘ 
two or three neighboring vessels, lent a little life to the scene for a 
time. Not appreciating the bits of greasy fried liver upon which 
our captain and crew of two made their morning, noon and evening 
meal, bread and claret completing the bill of fare, we went supper- 
less to bed. On looking out early the next morning the dark, 
lead-colored water and foggy air looked cheerless enough, but we 
were consoled by the information that we were sailing under a good 
breeze directly towards our destination. Soon the North Farallones 
loomed up through the fog—little bare rocks, with the waves dash- 
ing against their sides. Presently midway rock was passed, and at 
last we were in sight of South Farallon. Almost before we know 
it the sail has been lowered, and we row past Sugar Loaf Rock into 
Fisherman’s Bay, where the anchor is lowered and the fog-horn 
blown to summon the eggers on shore to send a skiff for us to land. 3 
As we lay at anchor in the little cove the sight was, indeed, a novel . 
one. The rocks were of a light pinkish or cream color from the 
guano upon them, interspersed with patches of pale-green where 
some moss or lichen had taken root, apparently. Lower down, 
where the waves dash upon them, they were clean and almost black 
in color, while in beautiful contrast to their sombre hue the breakers 
were dashed into white foam and pale-green opaline tints. But the 
thing which interested us the most was the vast assemblage of birds. 
Every cranny upon the face of the rough granitic cliffs was alive 
with guillemots, uttering their characteristic note,some at rest, some 
fluttering and scrambling or bobbing their heads; the whole scene 
being one of indescribably weird animation, and unlike anything 
else imaginable, unless it be the witches in Faust on Walpurgis 
night. Here and there the black figure of a cormorant upon her 
nest was noticed, or one would fly by with a fish in her bill, headed 
toward her nest. An occasional puffin (Lunda cirrhata ), or sea 
Parrot, as it is aptly called, would fly past the boat, with its immense 
odd bill of red and the big patch of white on the head in striking | 
