SUBFBIBD 487 



America, and it migrates along the whole Pacific coast of the two 

 Americas. At the north, in Alaska, it has not been reported between 

 May 29 and July 21 ; during this interval it vanishes. It is believed 

 that the nesting grounds are in the interior of northwestern Alaska, 

 but this belief rests upon inference coupled Avith the assertions of 

 Alaskan natives. 



In California tlie Surf -bird is a moderately common species in 

 the spring and fall migrations, and it has been observed here once in 

 winter. Definite instances of occurrence, with specific dates, are as 

 follows: Bodega Bay, March 25 or 26, 1885 (Belding, MS) ; Berkeley, 

 October 24, 1888 (Cooke, 1910, p. 95) ; Farallon Islands, June 3, 1903 

 (Cooke, loc. cit.) ; Santa Cruz, April 22, 1895 (specimen in Mailliard 

 coll.) ; Monterey, August 3, 1894, and other dates in same month 

 (Loomis, 1895, p. 224) ; January 12, 1911 (two specimens in Mus. 

 Vert. Zool.) ; and May 10 and August 5, 1907 (Beck, 1910, p. 71) ; 

 Santa Barbara, September 16, 1911, flock of five (Bowles and Howell, 

 1912, p. 11); May 3, 1912, flock of twenty-three (Dawson, 1912, p. 

 224) ; May 1, 1913 (Howell, MS) ; and June 4, 1915, two individuals 

 (Dawson, 1915, p. 207) ; San Miguel Island, between March 13 and 

 April 1, 1903 (Willett, 1912a., p. 41) ; San Nicolas Island, May 15, 

 1909 (Willett, loc. cit.) ; Pacific Beach, San Diego County, September 

 8, 1904 (Bishop, 1905, p. 141) ; and Point Loma, San Diego County, 

 March 19, 1898 (Stephens coll.). It has also been reported doubt- 

 fully from Santa Barbara Island ( Cooper in Baird, Brewer and Ridg- 

 way, 1884, I, p. 127), and it was obtained by Heermann (1859, p. 64) 

 in the markets of San Francisco in the winter of 1849. The latter 

 author also met with this species on the Farallon Islands in June, 

 1850. 



Summarizing from the above, we find the earliest spring record 

 to be March 19 and the latest June 4; the earliest in the fall August 

 3, and the latest October 24, save for the single January occurrence. 

 Most of the records are for May and August. Being a species which 

 adheres closely to the rockiest portions of our coasts, it does not come 

 to the attention of the usual visitor to the seashore. Special efforts 

 to find this bird, if made at the proper season and in the proper 

 locality, are quite sure to prove successful. 



Among the shore birds occurring in California the Surf -bird may 

 be knoA\Ti by its moderate size (considerably larger than that of the 

 Killdeer), its very plump appearance, short, plover-like bill (fig. 78), 

 very short legs, conspicuous white upper tail coverts and base of tail 

 ("rump" patch), white band across wing, and the bold pattern of 

 markings on its under surface (pi. 13). From our two Turnstones, 

 which it most closely resembles, this bird may be told by its stouter 

 build, somewhat larger size, the boldly marked instead of pure white 



