12 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 12 



SANTA ROSA ISLAND 



Santa Rosa Island lies five miles westward from Santa Crnz, and is fifteen 

 miles long, with a maximum width of ten miles. The shores are bold, high and 

 rocky; the highest point is 1562 feet, near the middle of the island. Water is 

 plentiful, and the island is covered with vegetation, but there arc no large trees. 

 There are sheep upon the island and several people live there, but it is hard to 

 obtain permission to stay upon it. 



SAN MIGUEL ISLAND 



This is the westernmost island of the group, and is the most difficult to ap- 

 proach. Its western point lies about twenty-five miles south of the nearest main- 

 land, and its eastern point three miles westward from Santa Rosa. The island 

 is irregular in shape, seven and a half miles long in an east and west direction, 

 and with an average width of two miles. The highest points, 860 and 850 feet 

 respectively, are about the middle of the island near the southern shore. There 

 is much long grass but no trees, and in the western part there are extensive sand 

 dunes. This sand is constantly shifting and encroaching on the remainder of the 

 island. The shores are bold, broken and rocky, with a few short stretches of 

 beach, the southern shore being more precipitous than the northern. Several 

 fairly good landing places occur, and there is some good water. Prince Islet, 303 

 feet high, lies a half mile off Cuyler's Harbor, which is about midway on the 

 northern coast. It is a breeding place for many sea-fowl. 



Begg's, Wilson, and Richardson rocks are all three of small extent, and are 

 respectively 40, 15, and 50 feet high. As far as I know, they have been visited 

 by no ornithologist. A few gulls and cormorants may make their homes upon 

 them, but it is unlikely that they hold anything of greater interest. 



