ZOOLOGY. 107 



evident that its favorite habitat is the rocky islands which lie scattered along, at greater or less 

 distances from the main land of California, and of which the Farallones are the most conspi- 

 cuous group. 



Subsequently, on our return voyage from San Francisco to Panama, when several days out, 

 a number of large, green cormorants, apparently of this species, at different times attempted to 

 come on board. They would fly round and round the steamer, and when arrived in front of the 

 bow would turn and fly directly aboard, hovering over the heads of the passengers who covered 

 the decks, seeking a vacant spot on which to alight. Several times they perched upon the 

 rigging, and, ultimately, one in desperation, flew directly in among the crowd of passengers 

 standing on the bow of the boat, I ran forward to secure the specimen, when I saw him 

 disappear over the side, where he was knocked by a brute — not one of the beef cattle. He went 

 under the wheel, and, greatly to my regret, was killed, and I could not secure him. What can 

 be the impulse which leads these birds to forget all their natural fear of man, and in spite of 

 the smoke, the motion of the walking beam, and of the steamer, and theories of the passengers, 

 to persist in throwing themselves into their midst it is difficult to imagine. It may be hunger, 

 for we were far from land, or it may be fatigue from long flight — a flight which they were only 

 willing to terminate by rest on some solid foundation. Whatever the cause, the fact is of fre- 

 quent occurrence, as 1 learn from the officers of the ship. 



CARBO TOWNSENDII? 



While collecting birds in the vicinity of San Francisco, I heard that, in San Pablo bay, a 

 white-breasted cormorant was to be found in great numbers. As I had no knowledge of a bird 

 answering to their description I resolved to go and secure specimens. I therefore chartere i the 

 good ship " Maid of the Mist," Duncan, master, of five tons burden, and getting aboar I the 

 necessary stores for the voyage, set sail for that unknown sea. Many were the ludicrous inci- 

 dents, hardships, and vexations of that eventful trip. Among its experiences were a night 

 spent in the fog of the straits, and another, a beautiful Saturday night, which came down upon 

 us so calm and still as if deserted by the "fickle Maid of the Mist." We held a council in an 

 open boat, in the geographical centre of San Pablo bay ; after hours hard pulling, guided by 

 the stars, we reached the ancient capital of the western empire, Vallejo. Though a large part 

 of the spoils of that chase were lost through the vandalism of our skipper, who would throw 

 overboard what was not good to eat ; still I saved from the general ruin a sufficient number of 

 the so-called "white-breasted cormorant." These cormorants were all of one species, and 

 innumerable. I noticed a considerable variation in the amount of white on the breast, in some 

 it was entirely wanting, while in others it was very conspicuous, as they sat on the rocks or 

 flew over our heads. 



I saw great numbers of the same species near Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia. 



I detected nothing peculiar in their habits. 



SULA BASSANA. 



The Gannet. 



While making the passage from San Francisco to Panama more or less of these birds were 

 in 8ight from the steamer nearly every day of our voyage. They range from California to the 

 isthmus. 



