2 22 Breninger, Sa» Clemente hlatid Birds. \ h^\ 



which mention was made, was on a rock a mile from the island. 

 These birds when disturbed flew without hesitation direct to the 

 island. At Monterey, Cal., I have seen Robins {Meruhi tnigra- 

 toria propinqua), and Rufous Hummingbirds, in their northward 

 movement leave the land at Point Pinos, flying directly out to sea, 

 crossing the bay. Later while out three miles from shore, I saw 

 Hummingbirds pass at the rate of one every five minutes. The 

 distance from Point Pinos on the south to Point Santa Cruz, the 

 north side of the bay, is thirty miles. While the migration of 

 Carpodacus from the mainland to the nearer islands is possible, 

 I think it very improbable. Migration is prompted largely by 

 meteorological changes and food supply. On San Clemente 

 Island food is abundant and the weather conditions are much the 

 same the year round and whatever migratory instinct the House 

 Finches ever possessed has been lost. 



The Horned Lark, set apart as Otocoris alpestris itisularis, a 

 common bird on the island, is the most intensely colored variety 

 of this species I have ever taken. The same is true of the Bur- 

 rowing Owl {^Speotyto cuniailaria hypogced) found on the island. 

 Specimens compared with some from San Pedro_. shows the island 

 bird to be much darker. 



One solitary Mountain Plover {Podasocys montana) was seen and 

 taken. My host told me they wintered on the island in incredi- 

 ble numbers. Flocks of Sanderling {Calidris arenaria), and a few 

 Hudsonian Curlew {Numenius hudsonicus) were seen on the beaches. 

 Black Oyster-catchers {HcBmatopus bacJmiani) were said to inhabit 

 the island, but I was not favored with a glimpse of these "birds 

 with redlegs," as they are known to the fishermen. 



I am at a loss to account for the mortality among the Auklets 

 (Ptychoramphtcs aleiiticus) frequenting the water about the island. 

 Along the shores and on the water dead Auklets were seen every- 

 where. Eagles and Duck Hawks fed on those that were not yet 

 dead, while ravens and gulls fed by day on the dead that were 

 thrown up among the rocks, and the foxes foraged over the same 

 ground at night. 



A flock of Meadowlarks {Sturnella magna neglecta) was encoun- 

 tered well up toward the top of the island. These were resident 

 and bred on the island. Contrary to the habits of most birds that 



