A First Glance at the Birds, 



Two species are found on our coast, 

 both breeding upon the Farallone is- 

 lands, — Leach's and the ashy petrel. 



The next order of water birds em- 

 braces all those which have not only the 

 three front toes connected by webs, but 

 also the hind toe joined to the others in 

 like manner. They are called the totipal- 

 mates and include the cormorants and 

 pelicans, representatives of both of which 

 are common along our shores. A distin- 

 guishing mark is the naked skin-pocket, 

 directly under the bill, known as the 

 gular pouch, an appendage which for a 

 long time was supposed to be used for 

 carrying live fish to the young, but this 

 theory has been pronounced untrue, as 

 the young are now known to be fed with 

 partially macerated food disgorged by 

 the parents. 



Many of you have, no doubt, noticed 

 a large-bodied, long-necked sort of bird, 

 dark brownish-black in color, flying over 

 the surface of the bay with rather labori- 

 ous flapping of wings, or have seen 



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