191ti.] Tovmsend, Voyage of ifu 'Albatross' in 1911. 409 



The 'Albatross 5 sailed southward in the evening. The following morn- 

 ing we dredged in 590 fathoms (Sta. 5674). The haul was a small but clean 

 one, there being merely a handful of blue mud. The catch was as follows: 

 Fishes — 1 Stemonidium, 1 Cyclofhone, 2 Melamphces; Invertebrates — 

 1 crimson prawn; schizopod, 1 starfish, and a few salpa j . This was a clean 

 haul with only a handful of blue mud. It is interesting to note that all the 

 fishes came up alive, an unusual occurrence from such a depth. 



■We arrived at the San Benito Islands early on the morning of the 9th. 

 I examined carefully the north and east shores of West Benito in search of 

 the fur seal which formerly existed there. There was a rookery of about 

 one thousand sea4ions (Zolophus ccdifornianus) on the west side, extending 

 fully half a mile along the rocks. It was evidently not the breeding season 

 of the California sea4ion, as no pups were seen. Many weathered heaps of 

 abalone shells were observed along the north shore, where formerly Chinese 

 were engaged in drying abalone meat. Nests of the osprey, composed of 

 dried sea weed, were observed on low rock pinnacles, about half of them 

 containing sets of three eggs. As only one young osprey was observed, the 

 nesting season was evidently not far advanced. 



In the afternoon I examined the eastern shore of East Benito, looking 

 over several small sea4ion rookeries in my search for the fur seal. There 

 appeared to be about seven hundred sea-lions on this island. The collec- 

 tors worked on both islands obtaining lizards, plants, fishes and inverte- 

 brates. Among the birds obtained were San Benito sparrow, MacGregor's 

 house finch, sparrow hawk, rock wren, burrowing owl, osprey, oystercatcher, 

 gull, duck hawk, hummingbird, horned lark, cormorant and Cassin's auklet. 

 The surface of parts of East Benito was so riddled with the burrows of auk- 

 lets that it was difficult to walk without breaking into them. A new species 

 of century plant found at the San Benitos has been named Agave disjuncta. 



We sailed early on the morning of the 10th for South Bay, Cedros Island. 

 This locality has a much scantier vegetation than other parts of the island. 

 The weather was extremely rough for landing. The collectors obtained 

 comparatively little; the land birds being represented by sparrow and 

 hummingbird only. Osprey eggs were brought on board, and gulls, cor- 

 morants and terns were seen. A few of the land birds observed were horned 

 lark, house finch, Say's flycatcher, raven and vulture. Black-chinned 

 hummingbirds were numerous. The collection of plants was good, and one 

 species of mouse (Peromyscus cremicus cedroscensis) was obtained. 



On the 11th the 'Albatross' arrived at the watering place on the south- 

 east side of Cedros where the collectors were all landed. Birds were not 

 abundant but a few species of land birds were obtained. The collection of 

 plants and lizards was more important. A few mice were taken and a single 



