IS PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 7 



Many ornithologists are of the opinion that Fiihiianis rodgersi is the ex- 

 treme Hght phase of Fnliiiants glacialis glupischa and is not entitled to recog- 

 nition as a separate form. I am inclined to believe that this conclusion is the 

 correct one, as I have seen birds in every stage of plumage from the lightest 

 of the former to darkest of the latter. 



42. (91) Puffinus creatopus Coues. Pink-footed Shearwater. 

 Common along the coast in summer and fall. Leaves in December and 



January, and returns during the latter part of May and the month of June. 

 Originally described from San Nicolas Island ( Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 

 XVI, 1864, 131). H. S. Swarth has a male that he found dead on the beach 

 at Redondo, Los Angeles County, May 10, 1901. I have frequently found 

 them dead on the southern California beaches in summer and fall, and saw 

 them near Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands in November and December, 1907. 

 During the first part of June, 1910, I saw occasional birds of this species in 

 company with Sooty Shearwaters, around the northern islands of the Santa 

 Barbara group. By June 23 they had become quite numerous (Condor xii, 

 1910, 173). J. G. Cooper saw the species near San Nicolas Island in July, 

 1863 (Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. iv, 1868, 11). 



43. (93) Puffinus opisthomelas Coues. Black-vented Shearwater. 

 At the close of their breeding season on the islands ofif the coast of Lower 



California, these birds migrate in large numbers northward along the coast of 

 southern California. They are very irregular as to the time of their arrival, 

 sometimes appearing as early as May 10, and at other times not being noted 

 until July or August. They also vary a great deal in numbers, some years 

 being much more abundant than others. A. W. Anthony says : "Their presence 

 along the coast of southern and Lower California seems to be governed very 

 largely by the food supply. They are particularly abundant during late July, 

 August and September, when they follow the large schools of herring and 

 other small fish that come in-shore at that season" (Auk xiii, 1896, 223). 

 The return journey to the breeding grounds is made in T<"ebruary, March and 

 April. 



J. Grinnell observed immense numbers of these birds resting on the water 

 about a mile out from San Pedro Harbor, May 11, 1897. Ten specimens were 

 secured. They all, males as well as females, had bare spaces on their breasts, 

 and the state of the reproductive organs showed that they must recently have 

 bred (Pub. 1. Pasadena Acad. Sci., 1897, 24). H. S. Swarth took a specimen 

 at Redondo, Los Angeles County. May 26. 1899, and W. Lee Chambers found 

 them abundant at Santa Monica, December 21 to 25, 1900. Several specimens 

 were secured. There are four eggs of the Black-vented Shearwater in the Na- 

 tional Museum, supposed to have been collected on Santa Barbara Island in 

 1873 by Captain C. M. Scammon. This record is regarded as doubtful by 

 most ornithologists of this section. 



44. (95) Puffinus griseus (Gmelin). Sooty Shearwater. 



Common on the ocean throughout the year. Alost abundant from late 



