Vol. XXI 



igo4 



J Ray, Fortnight oil the Faralloties. 4^9 



bers of the family on the isles. These birds are remarkably adept 

 in clinging to the almost perpendicular cliffs, where on some slight 

 projection or hollow they will place their weed nest, some por- 

 tion of which frequently extends over the edge. Most were in 

 situations that to think of reaching would take one's breath away, 

 and always brought to mind the use of long dangling ropes or 

 gigantic ladders to bring these unwilling specimens to the cabinet. 

 We were, however, able to reach a number of those in the more 

 accessible places. Although a more or less solitary species we 

 found quite a colony, with about twenty nests, along the precipitous 

 rocky divide on the south side of West End. In many places on 

 the main island and adjoining islets groups of several nests 

 together were common, but a large number of them were isolated. 

 The nests were built in the usual cormorant style, a little smaller 

 and deeper than those of the other two species. The day we 

 came the birds were guarding their homes, evidently fearing 

 usurpation by their own kind, for in all that we could see no eggs 

 had yet been laid, and up to the time we left they were still on 

 duty on the eggless nests. Many of the latter were completed, 

 while others were being built, either over the remains of a last 

 year's structure or anew. When constructing a nest one bird 

 would bring the weeds while its sitting mate would place them, 

 although at times both birds would take a hand in the work, which 

 seemed to progress with marvelous slowness. 



II. Lophortyx californicus californicus. California 

 Partridge. 



According to Mr. Cyrus J. Cane, the present head keeper, sev- 

 eral of these birds were on the island for a period of seven years 

 and built their nests among the grass on the flats. One in par- 

 ticular struck up a great friendship with one of the hens and 

 would roost by its side in the chicken house. 



12. Corvus corax sinuatus. American Raven. 



For many years a pair of these birds nested in a trough-like 

 aperture in Raven Cliff, but since these were shot last year, on • 



