VOL. III.] Natural 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 

 pluniage 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 opportunity 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. One of 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 quack kuck kuck 

 kuck, uttered very rapidlv in a low, guttural tone. Sometimes it 

 was varied thus — kuck 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 ki 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 



