24 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



to take advantage of the gannets, and about the breeding places of the 

 latter they feed largely at the public expense. But few of them were 

 seen about the islands two or three pairs at Isabel and half a dozen 

 pairs about the Tres Marias. A nest, which had been occupied earlier 

 in the season, was seen on the ledge of a rocky islet off the shore of 

 Maria Oleofa May 30, and full grown young of the year were also seen 

 on the rocks. 



Sterna maxima Boddaert. Royal Tern. 



None were seen at Isabel Island, although they were not uncommon 

 during April along the mainland coast. During May they were seen 

 in small parties about the shores of all the Tres Marias group, where 

 they probably breed in very limited numbers. The only specimen 

 saved was taken May 31 from a flock of six which was coasting along 

 the beach at Maria Cleofa. 



Sterna elegans Gambel. Elegant Tern. 



Sterna galericulata Lawr., Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 317 (1874). 



Colonel Graysoii found these terns on Isabel Island, but none were 

 seen by us. 



Sterna fuliginosa crissalis (Lawr.). Pacific Sooty Tern. 



Haliplana fuliginosa var. crissalis Lawr. (ex Baird MS.), Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. 

 Hist., XIV, pp. 285, 301, June, 1871; Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 318, 

 1874. 



These handsome terns are common about Isabel Island where Colo- 

 nel Grayson found them breeding. My observations from the last of 

 April to the first of June led me to believe that at this season Isabel 

 Island is their central roosting point. During the week we were cruis- 

 ing about Isabel and the Tres Marias islands many flocks were seen. 

 From about noon until the middle of the afternoon or later the flocks 

 were generally flying directly toward Isabel at an altitude of from 

 50 to 200 yards above the water. This was noted also near the islands, 

 while we were crossing the straits between the Tres Marias, and off 

 the mainland near San Bias. Many of the birds were perched 

 along the top of an inaccessible rock just off Isabel, and were also 

 seen alighting on the cliffs of the northern and northeastern side of 

 the island, but the boat was too unwieldy for us to venture near enough 

 to closely examine these haunts. The birds have a peculiar shrill 

 cry which they often utter while feeding and when flying about at 

 night. The night before we landed on Isabel Island it was necessary 

 to anchor about midway between the island and the shore. The wind 

 blew strongly in the afternoon but fell at sunset, a dead calm ensued, 

 and heavy clouds overspread the sky. During the day only a few 

 sooty terns had been seen, but from about 9 p. m. until near daybreak 

 they were evidently much more numerous, for their cries were heard at 

 short intervals. Several times the notes were uttered directly overhead 

 and the birds seemed to be scarcely higher than the top of the mast T 

 where they apparently paused and hovered while they examined the 



