^8 GRimsiEi.1. AND Daggktt, Birds of Corotiados Isla/tds. Ljan 



one third distant from the north end, affords shelter with good 

 anchorage for small craft, and at present is the landing place of a 

 launch which makes a trip to the island from San Diego whenever 

 five or more persons wish to enjoy the fishing, which in these 

 little frequented waters is said to be unexcelled. 



About a mile north of South Island appears a jagged point of 

 land, little more than a great irregular rock, and scarcely a fifth of 

 a mile in extent. Lying between these two, though rather out of 

 line to the westward and nearest the latter, is another somewhat 

 larger mass of rock. Both of these together are known as Middle 

 Islands. 



' Away to the north some four miles, and most inaccessible of 

 all, lies the fourth island, which completes the group and is called 

 North Island. It is almost a duplicate of South Island, if any- 

 thing, more rugged, but not so large. Red sandstone crops out 

 in places, with here and there small caves and overhanging 

 shelves, a feature evidently attractive to many seabirds. An entire 

 absence of water on any of the islands during the long dry sea- 

 son prevents the existence of goats, foxes and other land mam- 

 mals usually present on the larger islands off our southern coast. 

 North Island, however, is literally overrun with mice. These and 

 the land birds must be able to do without water unless they can 

 drink the salt sea water. 



On August 6, 1902, we availed ourselves of an opportunity to 

 visit the Coronados Islands in the launch rather than trust to the 

 uncertain moments of sailing craft, heretofore the only means of 

 reaching the islands. A few miles out from the pier, at Coronado 

 Beach, opposite San Diego, whence we embarked, we began to 

 meet with birds, singly and in small companies. Cormorants, 

 gulls and pelicans scattered before the sharp puff of the launch, 

 while several Forster Terns seemed to be attracted for a minute, 

 eyeing us curiously before flying off. As we approached South 

 Island, bird life made itself more apparent, the surface of the 

 water being dotted with cormorants and pelicans, many of them 

 being young-of-the-year. Heermann gulls in immature plumage, 

 recent arrivals from their breeding grounds far to the south, kept 

 in constant view. Great patches of white on the rocky headlands 

 and outlying rocks indicated favorite roosting places. 



