''^im"'] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 135 



veal the presence of auy small mammal, while feathers of petrels were 

 found about the burrows, which seemed of the proper size for this 

 species. The small lizards of the island could not have excavated bur- 

 rows of such a nature. If this theory should prove the correct one, I 

 predict that the number of petrels to be seen at Socorro Island when 

 visited at the proper breeding season will be something hitherto un- 

 heard of. 



Mimodes graysoni (Baird). 

 Common ; five specimens, March 8. 



Pipilo carmaiii (Lawr.). 

 Common ; three specimens, March 8. 



Columbigallina passerina socorroensis (Ridgw.)- 

 Common; five specimens, March 8. 



Compsothlypis graysoui (Eidgw.). 

 Common ; three specimens, March 8. 



Troglodytes insularis (Baird). 

 Common ; four specimens, March 8. 



Buteo borealis socorroensis (Ridgw.). 

 Two specimens; March 8; only four or five seen. 

 Nycticorax violaceus (Linn.). 



Rare; one specimen. 



Zenaidura graysoni (Lawr.)- 



One specimen; no others seen. 



The adult plumage of this species is here described for the first time, 

 the original descriptions being from young birds collected by Colonel 

 Grayson about twenty years ago, since which time no collector has 

 visited the island. 



Adult female : Upper parts, except head, olive-brown with a rusty 

 wash; scapulars with a pair of large oval black spots near the end of 

 each feather upon the outer margin of the webs, making more than a 

 dozen spots in all; hind head, sides, and under surface of wings leaden 

 blue. Forehead, sides of head, and entire under parts dark cinnamon. 

 Bill black. Feet and legs red. Wing, 5.80; tail, 4.80; culmen, .60; 

 tarsus, .1. 



Type, Xo. 117498, U. S. Nat. Mus. Socorro Island, March 8, 1889. 

 C. H. Townsend. 



III. San Benedicte Island. 



Salpinctes obsoletus (Say). 



Abundant. This bird and the raven are the only resident land birds. 

 Five specimens, March 10. 



