438 Ray, Fortnight on the Farallones. ^"^ 



rocks form most of the nest material, and these become more or 

 less dry by the end of May and are easily detached by the birds ; 

 in fact a strong wind will frequently rip up a whole mat-like bed. 

 In make and size the nests of this species are like those of the pre- 

 ceding. I noticed considerable sea moss among the nest material, 

 which is undoubtedly uprooted by the birds themselves, but it 

 was not in such variety as I had been led to believe. Quar- 

 rels over nest material were of frequent occurrence among the 

 birds of the rookery, but the most arrant robbers came from the 

 settlement on Sugar Loaf, where the weeds do not grow. It was 

 a queer sight to see one of these great lumbering-flighted cormo- 

 rants come flapping into the colony, and after some opposition 

 succeed and go awkwardly sailing off with a long stringing bunch 

 of weeds. 



After our first inspection we did not approach close to the 

 rookery for the reason that the birds were just laying and were 

 easily put to flight, upon which hordes of screaming gulls would 

 settle down and make off with the eggs, some breaking one after 

 another through pure meanness without touching the contents, 

 while others would devour the egg (less the shell) in the nest 

 without taking the trouble to fly, and by the time the cormorants 

 returned not an egg remained. From the nests on the outskirts 

 we took several sets of four eggs. This species, like the other 

 two varieties, is easily recognized, even at a distance, from its 

 nuptial plumage, the most conspicuous adornments being a dark 

 blue gular sac and small bunches of thread-like feathers hang- 

 ing from the sides of the neck. 



All day long the great rookery was a scene of activity ; every- 

 where the ponderous clumsy birds, using to the best of their 

 ability what skill nature had endowed them with, were fashion- 

 ing their weed-homes, while scores of setting birds ever and anon 

 would rise to stretch their stiffened wings or to greet their mates 

 returning fish-laden from the sea. 



10. Phalacrocorax pelagicus resplendens. Baird's 

 Cormorant. 



Baird's Cormorant, by its small size, sleek plumage, and con- 

 spicuous white flanks, was easily separated from the other mem- 



