vou. 11.]  Vatural History of the Farallones. 157 
contrast to the dark color of the body. By far the most familiar 
birds were the western gulls (Larus occidentalis ). They flocked 
about the boat in considerable numbers, displaying their beautiful 
dark slate-blue mantle and yellow bills with the scarlet patch near 
the tip. They were attracted by the refuse from the men’s break- 
fast, which was thrown overboard in the cove. In spite of their fine 
plumage and graceful actions, they proved to be a disagreeable, 
noisy, quarrelsome bird. 
After a half-hour of impatient waiting a skiff was lowered into 
the water from the sling in which it hangs from the rocks, and a 
man came out to land us, bags and baggage. Not until we were in 
the skiff bound for shore, and in the comparatively quiet waters of — 
the cove, did I realize to its fullest extent the pleasures of a sea 
voyage by getting seasick; and then to lie down and watch my 
companion consume a good breakfast after a fast of thirty-six hours, 
and be able to join him only in spirit! 
However, there was no time for lamenting the inevitable. Shortly 
after we had become established in our quarters at the residence of 
the head light-keeper, the eggers started to gather the eggs on the 
portion of the island known as West End, and we learned that it 
would be our only opportunisy to visit that district, as the eggers 
object to disturbing the birds except just after they have plundered 
them. 
The eggers had refused to allow us to take a gun to the islands, 
but we found two young men there from San Francisco, who had 
come on the tug, and were provided with that implement so neces- 
sary to the bird collector. Oneof them, Mr. H. M. Anthony, very 
kindly went with me and assisted in securing such birds as I desired. 
As we started off, following the course of the eggers, the gulls 
were by far the most conspicuous and noisy birds seen. Their most 
common note may be expressed by the syllables guock hkuck huck 
kuck, uttered very rapidly in a low, guttural tone. Sometimes it — 
was varied thus—suck kuck kuck ka—the quality of tone being the 
same as in the first instance. Frequently a higher cry would be- 
heard, which may be indicated by the letters £7 aa, with a strong 
accent on the first syllable. Again, one would utter a rattling, gut- 
tural cry, which sounded like a man being throttled. The young 
were quite common about the rocks, white in color, everywhere 
spotted with dark dusky. At the approach of an enemy they would 
