1885.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 93 



in their congeners. Where they are found in abundance they are easier 

 to kill than the more agile seals. They also produce more oil in propor- 

 tion to their size. They have had no chance during late years to at- 

 tain large size, and it is doubtful whether they will ever again be found 

 as large as that one which Captain Scammon found to measure 22 feet 

 in length. He also mentions one measuring 18 feet, which yielded 210 

 gallons of oil. The largest bulls killed by Captains Lee and Morrison 

 in the seasons of 1883 and 1884 averaged but 90 gallons of oil each, I 

 found a weather-worn, but still well preserved, skull on the Elephant 

 Beach which measures exactly 2 feet. This indicates an animal of very 

 great size, having probably a length of 20 feet. 



While at Magdalena Bay I learned of their former occurrence at San 

 Hipolito Bay, which may be about half way between Cerros Island and 

 Cape St. Lucas. From the great number of weather-worn skulls and 

 other bones found at various places it is evident that their former 

 abundance has not been overestimated. The beach at San Cristobal 

 Bay was lined with bones, and we found them at many places on Cerros, 

 Benita, and Natividad Islands. The new-born young that were met 

 with in 1883-'84 were dropped at various times between ISTovember 1 

 and February 1. 



The sea-elephant without doubt aifects the vicinity of the roughest 

 breakers. We seemed always to find its bones opposite places so rough 

 that we could not land without danger. Captain Scammon mentions 

 finding ruins of the stone huts built by the seal hunters of half a cen- 

 tury ago. We met with these, too, but I should also add that wefoun<l 

 many a nameless grave where the body of some unfortunate man, 

 drowned in the surf, had found a last resting place when the sea gave 

 up its dead. At San Cristobal Bay we often had our boats half filled 

 with water in landing. It was not safe in fact to land through the surf 

 there in any other boat than a dory, while we were compelled to anchor 

 our schooner at Turtle Bay, nearly 20 miles distant. After these wet- 

 tings some one had usually a harrowing tale of death by drowning to 

 relate, and could adduce evidence thereto by pointing out some lonely 

 grave. 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OP BOAT-BILLED HERON PROM 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 



By ROBERT RIDO WAY. 



Cancrotna zeledoni, sp. nov. 



Sp. char. — Eesembling C. cochlearia, (Linn.), but differing in having 

 the neck and breast deep buff instead of ashy white ; the under surface 

 of the primaries ashy instead of white ; the upper ijarts much deeper 

 pearl-gray, and the crest far less developed. 



Hah. — Central America, from southern and western Mexico to 

 Veragua. 



