1917 BIRDS OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ISLANDS 31 
Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 1v, 1868, p. 11. (8) Cooper, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., rv, 1870, p. 
79. (4) Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, Water Birds N. Am., 1, 1884, p. 384. (5) Grin- 
nell, Pasadena Acad. Sci., 1, 1897, p. 24. (6) Grinnell, Pasadena Acad. Sci., 1, 1898, 
p. 8. (7) Godman, Monog. Petrels, 1m, 1908, p. 101. (8) Willett, Condor, x1, 1910, p. 
173. (9) Willett, Pac. Coast Avif., 7, 1912, p. 18. (10) Wright and Snyder, Condor, 
Kv 191s) Dp: 8o: 
Abundant during summer, fall, and the first part of the winter. Originally 
described from a bird taken by J. G. Cooper (1) near San Nicolas Island. Coop- 
er (4) found it to be the most abundant and easily approached species of Tubi- 
nares near San Nicolas, where the water is shallow and small fish numerous. 1 
have seen individuals around the Coronados during the months of June and 
July; and L. M. Huey (MS) saw a few in the same locality on August 13, 1914. 
H. A. Gaylord (6) noted birds near Catalina May 12, 1897. A. van Rossem and 
I met with the species the last of April and first of May, 1911, near Santa Cruz 
Island. G. Willett (8) recorded it from Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa, June 7, 
1910, where, by the 24th it had become quite plentiful, and the same writer (9) 
encountered it near Anacapa and Santa Cruz in November and December, 1907. 
32. Puffinus opisthomelas Coues 
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER 
Puffinus opisthomelas (1) Anthony, Auk, x1, 1896, p. 225. (2) Grinnell, Pasadena Acad. 
Sci., 1, 1897, p. 24. (3) Grinnell, Pasadena Acad. Sci. 11, 1898, p. 8. (4) Anthony, 
Auk, xvu, 1900, p. 247. (5) Grinnell, Pac. Coast Avif., 3, 1902, p. 15. (6) Bailey, 
Handb. Birds West. U. S., 2d ed., 1904, p. 35. (7) Godman, Monog. Petrels, m, 1908, 
p. 109. (8) Linton, Condor, x, 1908, p. 126. (9) Osburn, Condor, x1, 1909, p. 1386. 
(10) Linton, Condor, x1, 1909, p. 198. (11) Howell, Condor, xu, 1910, p. 186. (12) 
Willett, Pac. Coast Avif., 7, 1912, p. 18. (73) Grinnell, Pac. Coast Avif., 11, 1915, p. 26. 
Puffinus gavia (14) Breninger, Auk, xxt, 1904, p. 219. 
Abundant except in the breeding season, sometimes making its appearance 
in early May, but not becoming plentiful until some time later. Remains until 
February at least. During July, August and September these birds are partic- 
ularly abundant in the channel. I noted half a dozen individuals several times 
during the middle of May, 1910, near the Coronados (11), and J. Grinnell (2) 
saw several off Catalina May 12, 1897. C. B. Linton (10) saw the species near 
San Clemente in the winter of 1908, and G. Willett (72) encountered it several 
times near Santa Cruz Island in November, 1907. 
As has been stated in print many times, there are four eggs that were said 
to be of this species, in the National Museum, collected by Captain Scammon on 
Santa Barbara Island. As most of us on this coast have viewed the above ree- 
ord with considerable distrust, I wrote Dr. C. W. Richmond in regard to it, elic- 
iting the following: ‘‘The eggs are in all probability those of Cassin’s Auklet 
(Pt. aleuticus) with which they agree in size and texture of shell. They had 
written on them, in pencil, ‘Egg of the Mutton Bird, Santa Barbara Id. Cal.’ 
From this beginning someone had added (on the data blank) ‘Puffinus gavia?’, 
and as the eggs of Puffinus were not common in our collection at that time, the 
determination passed muster for the time being’’. This undoubtedly solves the 
question. Opisthomelas nests in large colonies, and as it does not invariably 
