°g 8^J Anthony, Avifauna oj the Rcvillagigcdo hlatuls. -? i 9 



the high tides evidently wash over the barriers and flood them 

 with sea water it is doublful if they are ever otherwise than 

 brackish. At the time of our visit, in May, they had been dry 

 for some months and no water was found anywhere on the island. 



As might be expected, from the position and vegetation of 

 Clarion, its birds are quite different from those of Socorro or 

 Benedicte. The only land bird, in fact, that was common to any 

 two islands was the Raven, which was abundant on Clarion and 

 not uncommon on San Benedicte but, strange to say, was not seen 

 on Socorro. 



On the afternoon of April 27 we sailed from Cape St. Lucas 

 for San Benedicte. At the Cape we left the last of the Larinse, 

 the Western Gull being fairly common and one or two Heermann's 

 Gulls being seen. 



Puffinus auricularis was not rare, and was seen at times all the 

 way across to San Benedicte, becoming abundant on the morning 

 of the 29th when we approached the island. P. cuneatus was also 

 seen at the Cape but none were noted after leaving there until 

 they became abundant near San Benedicte. Boobies and Man-o'- 

 War Birds came off to meet us at daybreak while still some 35 

 miles from the island and escorted us to our anchorage. 



The islands are treated separately for sake of comparison. 



San Benedicte Island. 



1. Puffinus auricularis. Eared Shearwater. — Small, scattered col- 

 onies were found on top of the island, the burrows being generally in the 

 thick grass, and but few — not over a dozen — in a colony. At the time of 

 our visit most of the burrows contained young that were, in many cases 

 nearly as large as the adults, but still covered with long plumbeous down, 

 Ughter (whitish) on the lower parts. Most of the adults Avere at sea 

 during the daytime, but a few were found with the smallest young, those 

 but a few days hatched. A single egg was found addled, and is now in 

 the U. S. National Museum. It is pure white like the eggs of the other 

 species of the genus that I have seen. 



2. Puffinus cuneatus. Wedge-tailed Shearwater. — Seen about 

 San Benedicte and Socorro Islands, but not common at the latter place. 

 None were seen at Clarion or west of Rocca Partida. Both phases were 

 seen, the sooty plumage outnumbering the light-bellied form about two 

 to one. In a series of about 75 specimens all manner of intergrades can 



