i»(8 1 Anthony, Avijanua of the Rcvillagigcdu Islands. "2 I d 



One wing was withered and useless, — evidently the bird had never enjoyed 

 its use, though it was fat and its stomach was well filled with flying 

 fish. Those who know the feeding habits of Fregata need not be told 

 that all their food is obtained on the wing, and a bird deprived of the use 

 of its wings would speedily starve if not fed by its fellows. The precipi- 

 tous sides of San Benedicte also made it impossible for a Man-o'-War 

 Bird to gain the top of the island if deprived of its wings. So it was 

 quite evident that the pensioner had never left the island, but had been 

 dependent on the bounty of its fellows all of its life. From its excellent 

 condition it was evident that even in that busy community of thousands 

 some of them found time to feed the unfortunate, 



9. Heteractitis incanus. Wandering Tatler. — Several Tatlers were 

 seen about the rocky shores of the island. 



10. Corvus corax sinuatus. American Raven. — Rather common 

 on San Benedicte. During our two weeks stay at Socorro no Ravens 

 were seen, which is a little strange since sheep are abundant and would 

 furnish more food than can possiblj' be found on the barren rocks of San 

 Benedicte. The fact of our not meeting with the species does not signify 

 that it never occurs, however, for the islands are but 35 miles apart, and 

 the distance could easily be traversed by a bird of such strong flight. 



11. Salpinctes obsoletus. Rock Wren. —Abundant. All of my speci- 

 mens are in worn plumage and are unsatisfactory for comparison with 

 mainland birds, but with the material at hand I see no reason for consid- 

 ering the island birds different from those of the peninsula. 



Socorro Isla?id. 



On May 3 we left San Benedicte, anchoring the same afternoon 

 on the southwest side of Socorro. The time until the i6th, was 

 spent in exploring this island. No land birds were found that 

 have not been recorded. All of the species are generally distrib- 

 uted, and with the exception of Micropallas and perhaps Buteo 

 all of the species peculiar to the island could be easily taken in 

 an hour and within a hundred yards of the beach. At the time 

 of our visit all of the land birds except the Doves had long since 

 nested and young, fully fledged, were taken as often as adults. 

 From the appearance of the organs I concluded that the Ground 

 Doves were just beginning to lay. With the exception of Buteo 

 socorroejisis land birds were remarkably tame. 



I. Larus occidentalis. Western Gull. — The fragments of a Gull 

 were found on the beach at the southwest end of the island and I am 



