Vol. XXn Breninger, San Clemente Island Birds. 2IQ 



1904 J ' y 



the island were the Western Gull {Lams occidentalis), Heermann's 

 Gull {Larus /leermanni), California Gull {Larus californici/s), and 

 the Glaucous-winged Gull {Larus glaiicescens). The few individ- 

 uals seen of Lams glaiicescens were immature birds. Those seen 

 of Larus californicus were migrating northward in small bunches. 

 I had hoped to learn something of the nesting of Larus heermanjii 

 on the island, but in this I was disappointed. My host, who had 

 spent most of fifteen years on the island, often found pleasure, 

 from his solitary occupation, in noting the time different birds 

 laid eggs. L. heermanni has never been known to nest on the 

 island. Z. occidentalis is the only one that brings forth its young 

 there. 



Out in the channel several lone individuals of the Black- 

 vented Shearwater {Puffinus gavia) were seen skimming the swells. 

 None were seen near land. A few California Pelicans {Pelecanus 

 californicus) were seen among a number of Cormorants {Phala- 

 crocorax penicillatus and P. pelagicus resplendens). Both of the 

 cormorants nested on the island, but the pelicans are said to nest 

 on some of the other islands. While rowing around the north 

 end of the island my host pointed out to me nests of Fish Hawks 

 {Pandion haliaetus carolinensis)., Bald Eagles {LLalicvetus leucoceph- 

 alus), and Ravens (Cor7'us corax sinuatus), built on some pro- 

 jecting ledge or hole in the seawall. Our objective point, that 

 morning, was a large rock, a mile distant from the end of the 

 island, where my host said there was an eagle's nest, and at that 

 date there should be eggs. As we neared the rock the huge nest, 

 with a white head protruding, was outlined against the sky. Great 

 seas broke about this time-worn mass of granite. A landing 

 can be made only in calm weather. After the force of three or 

 four swells had been broken, the boat was run up to the rock, and 

 I jumped ashore and hastened upward while my man pulled the 

 boat away to save it from being broken. The nest held two eggs, 

 which were taken, but the one parent shot at was lost, falling in 

 the surf or on the end of the island. Rough seas prevented a land- 

 ing being made. 



Up on a hillside, among green grass, my host pointed out 

 another eagle's nest. The accumulation of years' repairing of the 

 old nest had given it such height that a man standing by its side 



