( 105 ) 



Juhi 2.— Birds very numerous ; several boobies were shot, also three frigate 

 birds. The latter were so poor in plumage that they were abandoned. Game in 

 sight of Clarion Island at about 3 p.m., and at 5 the island showed up quite plain. 

 Boobies and frigate birds were very tame. Towards dark the vessel was " hove-to," 

 it not being thought safe to anchor. 



Juhj 3.— Had drifted during the night a considerable distance from the island, 

 and it took till noon to come to an anchorage. Clarion Island, lat. 18° 20' N., 

 long. 114° 44' W., belonging to Mexico. Beck took a photograi)h of the island from 

 N.E. to S.^V. AVe came to anchor ofi' the west shore, where there was a sandy beach. 

 The boobies came off in numbers and lighted on the higher parts of the rigging. 

 One could see many thousands of them on the island in different " rookeries." On 

 the N.E. edge of the island was a remarkable monument rock, and near it an arch 

 surmounted by several spires. The skiff was got out immediately after coming to 

 anchor, and Harris and myself embarked, I getting on the island first. Almost 

 immediately I saw a small lizard, about 6 in. long, of a greenish bine colour, 

 sunning himself on a rock ; and Harris found several blue-faced boobies {Suln 

 ci/anops) sitting on their nests. Upon the arrival of Hull and Beck we set out, 

 following a winding trail in order to avoid the cactns with which the island 

 is about ihalf covered (:i or 3 ft. high). Ate luncheon near a colony of the 

 blue-faced boobies. The birds were sitting on their nests, some containing 

 young nearly fledged, others very young, and still other eggs. They showed their 

 dislike of any very near approach by a continuous whistle, or else a cry resem- 

 bling "krack" made in their throats. A small wren {Troglodi/tes tanneri), 

 extent 7-51 in., length 5-51 in., was shot soon after landing, and a snake 4 to .5 ft. 

 in length was taken. After luncheon work commenced in earnest, and many 

 birds, snakes, etc., were collected. The birds, so far as noted, were red-footed 

 and blue-faced boobies, frigate and tropic birds, ravens, doves, wrens, and 

 burrowing owls, of each of which a good series were secured. The red-footed 

 and blue-faced boobies were the only birds found nesting, and they as aforesaid 

 had all grades of j'oung. The red-footed species was found nesting in large heavy 

 bushes ; the nests, which were composed of pieces of dried twigs loosely placed 

 together, from 3 to G ft. from the ground ; only a single egg was found in a nest. 

 The old birds were induced to leave their nests with great difficulty, and then only 

 fluttered to the ground, and in most cases disgorged their last meal. The naked 

 parts around the eye in the young birds, together with the bill, were black. The 

 blue-faced boobies nested on the ground ; several sets of two eggs were taken. 

 There were many frigate birds flying over the island, and occasionally one would 

 chase a booby, tormenting it until it disgorged. The ravens were quite numerous, 

 and several specimens were secured, although they were more wary than the other 

 birds. Those secured were in very poor plumage.* The doves were very numerous 

 and tame, all of them being secured with the auxiliary barrel. They were found all 

 over the parts of the island that were visited. It is the Zcnaiilura clarionensis. 

 The wrens were also very abundant. They had a pleasant song, and were also very 

 tame. Several nests supposed to belong to this species were found in the bushes 

 about 3 ft. from the ground. The burrowing owls t were found abundant, and a 

 good number of specimens were secured. Their burrows extended down several 

 feet in the light sandy soil of the island. The blue-faced booby builds no nest ; eggs 

 laid on the ground in a slight depression. Two species of snakes wore found. They 



* Unfortunately none were preserved I— Ed. f Speotijto cunicutaria rostrata. 



