LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN PETRELS AND PELICANS. 267 



All the nests of the Bratult ooniiorants on the rock contained egj^s (apparently 

 in an advanced state of incubation), with the exception of eleven, which had 

 yonng- birds in them. In ten, the youny were just out of the shell. In the 

 remaining one they were as large as " spring chickens." The eggs in seventy- 

 seven nests were counted by a companion. Twenty-one contained four eggs each ; 

 thirty-sis, three eggs ; fourteen, two eggs ; three, five eggs ; three, one egg. The 

 most frequent numbers were therefore three and four, probably the ordinary 

 clutches. 



Sardines were lying in little bunches near the nests, apparently placed there 

 as food for the birds that were setting. 



The smell from the accumulated excrement was sickening. The sides of the 

 rock were so daubed that it appeared to be white toward the top. Flies swarmed 

 about the rookery. 



It was not until I fired my gun that the brooding birds began to desert their 

 eggs. The Baird cormorants were the first to go. Many of the Brandt cor- 

 morants lingered on the edge of the rock while I walked about among the nests, 

 only a few steps away. Finally all were driven to the water, where they formed 

 a great raft. They began to return as soon as I left the top of the rock. 



The rookery at Seal Rocks was much larger than the one at Point Carmel. 

 The rocky islet upon which It was located is considerably greater in size and 

 much lower in elevation than the Point Carmel islet. From the mainland, less 

 than a hundred yards distant, no nests were in sight, all being on the side 

 toward the ocean, hidden from view by a sort of dividing ridge. The Del Monte 

 drive passes along the shore directly opposite the Rocks. It is a much fre- 

 quented roadway, and the summer visitors have greatly persecuted the birds 

 with firearms, forcing them to seek shelter for their nests behind the projecting 

 rock. 



My first visit to the rookery was made July 2d. As at Point Carmel, a landing 

 could be effected only on the shore side of the islet. The resident population was 

 composed exclusively of Brandt cormorants. Their nests were crowded so 

 closely together on the uneven surface of the rock that room to place the foot 

 was not always readily found. Some of the nests were on little points of rock, 

 others in crevices, every available spot being utilized. Most of the eggs had 

 hatched. The young were in different stages of growth, vai*ying in size from 

 those just out of the shell to half-grown ones. The larger left the nests when 

 approached, and huddled together on the edge of the islet well above the reach 

 of the surf. There was such a complete mixing up of babies that the old birds 

 must have had some trouble in sorting them out when they returned, for im- 

 mediately after I landed most of the adults retreated to the water, congregating 

 in a great raft a short distance away. A few of the bolder remained behind 

 for awhile. Several, apparently females, kept close by their young until I 

 approached within ten feet of them, when their courage failed and they took 

 flight, leaving the young to shift for themselves. Two of the larger young birds 

 sought refuge on an outlying rock, separated from the islet by a little channel. 

 They had apparently never been in the water before. They succeeded, never- 

 theless, in swimming across the channel and climbing up the steep sides of the 

 rock, although a number of times they were buried out of sight by incoming 

 waves. 



A vibratory movement of the gular sac, apparently occasioned by fear, was 

 noticed in a number of adults and half-grown young. Most of the adults ob- 

 served on the rookery appeared to have lost the nuptial filaments. 



The general form of the nests was circular, except where wedged in between 

 rocks. They appeared to be constructed entirely of eel grass (Zostcra). Those 



