THE BIRDS OF THE ISLANDS 157 



every year, and a good hay supply is obtained. Most 

 of the slopes in summer are covered with yellow wild 

 oats and clover (Trifolium), which in winter are, of 

 course, green, giving parts of the island an attractive 

 appearance. 



The commonest bird of the island is the bald eagle, 

 which appears to thrive and is found everywhere. It 

 occasionally flies out to sea after dead fish, pouncing 

 down upon them, and snatching at them with its 

 powerful claws. 



This bird {Halmtus leucocephalus) could be seen at 

 any time near our camp, one or two roosting near us 

 every day at our canon or beach, perched on the rocks 

 within easy gunshot. A large female, injured in some 

 way, was brought into camp after an exciting chase 

 and later sent to the zoological garden at Los Angeles. 



On the upper island I saw the valley partridge, or 

 California quail. Some years large numbers are seen, 

 the young birds being observed in May and June. 

 According to Grinnell, they were introduced by Gal- 

 lagher some years ago, but it would not be difficult for 

 quail to reach the island on a clear hot day, when all 

 the islands appear to be almost within speaking dis- 

 tance. 



I frequently saw the mourning dove at Chinetti's 

 and at Rowland's, in the Malva rosa, and near the 

 tanks. On the pillars of rocks below our camp at 

 Mosquito were numbers of nests of the American 

 osprey (Pandion), and on a trip around the island 

 scores of their rough nests were observed. One very 

 large nest I found on the summit of a rock on the 

 east end, which I reached with some difficulty. It 

 weighed possibly one hundred pounds, and was made 



