24 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



to take advantage of tlie gaunets, aud about the breeding places of tbe 

 latter tbey feed hirgely at tbe public expense. But few of them were 

 seen about tbe islands — two or tbree pairs at Isabel and balf a dozen 

 pairs about the Tres Marias. A uest, which had been occupied earlier 

 in the season, was seen on the ledge of a rocky islet off the shore of 

 Maria (Jleofa May 30, and full grown young of the year were also seen 

 on the rocks. 



Sterna maxima Boddaert. Royal Teru. 



None were seen at Isabel Island, although they were not uncommon 

 during April along the mainland coast. During May they were seen 

 in small i^arties about the shores of all the Tres Marias group, where 

 they probably breed in vei'y limited numbers. The only specimen 

 saved was taken May 31 from a tlock of six which was coasting along 

 the beach at Maria Cleofa. 



Sterna elegaus Gambel. Elegaut Tern. 



Sterna yalericulata Lawr., Mom. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 317 (1874). 



Colonel Grayson found these terns on Isabel Island, but none were 

 seen by us. 



sterna fuliginosa crissalis (Lawr.). Pacific Sooty Tern. 



Haliplana fuUgiimsa var. crissalis Lawr. (ex Baird MS.), Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. 

 Hist., XIV, pp. 285, 301, June, 1871; Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 318, 



1874. 



These handsome terns are common about Isabel I.sland where Colo- 

 nel Grayson found them breeding. My observations from the last of 

 April to the first of June led me to believe that at this season Isabel 

 Island is their central roosting point. During the week we were cruis- 

 ing about Isabel and the Tres Marias islands many flocks were seen. 

 From about noon until the middle of the afternoon or later the flocks 

 were generally flying directly toward Isabel at an altitude of from 

 50 to 200 yards above the water. This was noted also near the islands, 

 while we were crossing tbe straits between the Tres Marias, and ofl' 

 the mainland near San Bias. Many of the birds were perched 

 along the toji of an inaccessible rock just off Isabel, and were also 

 seen alighting on the clifl's of the northern and northeastern side of 

 the island, but the boat was too unwieldy for us to venture near enough 

 to closely examine these haunts. The birds have a peculiar sbrill 

 cry which they often utter while feeding and when flying about at 

 night. The night before we landed on Isabel Island it was necessary 

 to anchor about midway between the island and the shore. The wind 

 blew strongly in the afternoon but fell at sunset, a dead calm ensued, 

 and heavy clouds overspread the sky. During the day only a few 

 sooty terns had been seen, but from about 9 j). m. until near daybreak 

 they were evidently much more numerous, for their cries were heard at 

 short intervals. Several times the notes were uttered directly overhead 

 and the birds seemed to be scarcely higher than the top of the mast, 

 where they apparently paused and hovered while they examined the 



