VOL. III.] Natural Historx of the FaraUones. 163 



and noiseless, reminding one somewhat of the flight of a bat. I did 

 not hear any note uttered by the bird. The irrepressible gulls were 

 also abroad at night and their note at that time sounded as a pensive 

 wail indescribably weird and mournful as it mingled with the creek- 

 ing of multitudes of auklets and the roar of the waves and wind 

 whistling about the sharp points of rock. 



There is but one other sea bird which nests about the islands of 

 which no particular mention has been made — the pigeon guillemot 

 ( Cepphus coliunba). It is very common, although never seen con- 

 gregating in such immense numbers as the California. When sitting 

 upon the rocks facing the observer it appears to be a very dark 

 brown bird with conspicuous scarlet feet. This brilliant color is un- 

 doubtedly a recognition mark as is also the characteristic white 

 patch on the wing which is conspicuous both when the bird is at rest 

 and in flight. Plate xx represents a group of the birds, the attitudes 

 having been taken from life. The most characteristic attitude of the 

 bird is an erect posture, with the entire foot upon the ground. 

 Frequently it will squat flat down among the rocks, however. They 

 may frequently be seen with fishes in their bills, but I was unable to 

 determine whether for their own use or to feed the young. When 

 anyone approaches they sit with their long slender bills wide open 

 and utter a high pensive long drawn out squeak — peeeeeeeeie. 

 Young birds were obtained from crannies in the rock, in much the 

 same sort of place as the auklets breed. 



In the foregoing account of the water birds breeding upon 

 the Farallons little or nothing has been said of the eggs both be- 

 cause they have all been described and because my own efforts were 

 directed towards obtaining the young birds and such few eggs as 

 were found well incubated. 



Only two land birds nest upon the island, the raven ( Corvus 

 corax sinuatiis), which is very rare but undoubtedly breeds there, 

 and the rock wren (Salpindes obsoletus), which is extremely abund- 

 ant and nests all over, at least the lower parts of the island. The 

 black turnstone ( Arenaria melmiocephala) , was fairly common along 

 the beach. No evidence of their breeding was discovered but it is 

 a little remarkable that they have been recorded by Mr. Emerson* 



^Bryant 1. c. p. 44. 



