BREWSTER: BIRDS OF THE CAPE REGION, LOWER CALIFORNIA, 31 



" The soil is chiefly of fine pumice, in some places soft and easily excavated, but 

 in others so hard as to require the use of a pick in opening the burrows. In most 

 of the excavations was a rude attempt at nest building, consisting of a few sprigs 

 of green grass and other vegetation which grew about the colony, and on this 

 meagre platform were both birds, but no eggs. Nor did the condition of the birds 

 indicate that the actual nesting season was at hand. About sunset the birds from 

 the island began to seek the water, meeting a similar tide moving in from the sea. 

 They mostly centred about the south end of the island, which soon presented the 

 appearance of a vast beehive. Thousands upon thousands of Sliearwaters were 

 circling about with easy flight much more airy and graceful than that of any 

 Shearwater with which I am familiar ; especially was the difference accentuated 

 when an occasional auricidaris with typical Sliearwater flight, skimmed through the 

 throng. The greater part of those birds which came from the higher parts of the 

 island descended at an angle of about 45^, with wings set until near tlie water, when 

 they sailed off over the waves until lost to view, while others descending in a spiral 

 course joined their fellows in circling about the water at the foot of the cliffs. There 

 was little, if any, outcry, though the sobbing notes were often heard from the birds 

 on shore. . . . 



" Thinking I would find eggs, I returned to San Benedicto from Socorro Island 

 two weeks later, but was disappointed. Many of the burrows were empty, and all 

 had been extended two feet or more in lengtli, and the nest of green plants moved 

 back to the end. As before, when birds were found there were usually two." 



Halocyptena microsoma Coues. 



Least Petrel. 



Haloci/ptena microsoma Codes, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 18G-I, 79 (orig. descr. ; 

 type from San Jos6 del Cabo). Elliot, lUustr. New and Unfig. N. Amer. 

 Birds, II. 1869, pi. 61 (descr. and figures type specimen from San Jose' del 

 Cabo). RiDGWAY, Proc. U. S. Nat, Mus., V. 1883, 534, footnote (San Jose' 

 del Cabo) ; VI. 1883, 158, footnote (crit. ; s. Lower Calif.). Baird, Bhewer, 

 and RiDGWAY, Water Birds N. Amer., II. 1884, 402 (figures head, leg, and 

 tail; near San Jose del Cabo). Bryant, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2d ser., II. 

 1889, 252 (San Jose del Cabo). 



The type of tliis peculiar little species, an adult female taken by Mr. Xantus 

 in May, 1861, near San Jose del Cabo, remained inii(|ue until March, 1888, 

 when a second example flew on board the United States Fish Commission 

 Steamer " Albatross " in Panama Bay, and was secured by Mr. Townsend.^ 

 Although the Xantus specimen appears to be the only one which has been 

 thus far taken in the immediate neighborhood of Cape St. Lucas, the 

 bird must occur there more or less regularly and commonly at times, for 

 Mr. Anthony states that 2 



" In early June I have found the Least Petrel migrating along the coast of 

 Lower California in company witii the Socorro and Black Petrels, and in late July 



1 Proc. U. S. Nat. :\Ius., XIII. 1890, 141. 2 Auk, XV. 1898, 142. 



