BIRDS FROM THE FARALLON ISLANDS. 27 



weeks or months of stormy weather. Other plants have 

 been introduced in the hay brought for "Jerry," the island 

 mule, whose duty it is to haul the car over the tramway 

 from the landing to the store-house. 



The only fresh water to be had on the island is that which 

 is caught during the rainy season and saved in cisterns. A 

 few springs near the shore line are too strongly charged 

 with guano to admit of their being used for drink. 



Birds rarely or never fly against the light-tower, but oc- 

 casionally strike the bell- wires running from the house to 

 the tower. 



The abundance of the breeding water-birds is estimated 

 to be in the following order: 1. Murre. 2. Western Gull. 

 3. Cormorants (including three kinds). 4. Pigeon Guil- 

 lemot. 5. Tufted Puffin. 6. Cassin's Aviklet. 7. Ashy 

 Petrel. 



It is, of course, understood that the land birds of this 

 catalogue are, in most cases, to be regarded as strag- 

 glers either driven offshore by high winds, astray in heavy 

 fogs, or resting on their migrations to the north or south- 

 ward. 



During the bird-wave in May, 1886, the weather was un- 

 usually fair. jSo stragglers were noticed by Mr. Emerson 

 in 1885. Mrs. Kugg saw a few that year. 



1. Lunda cirrhata. 



Tufted Puffin. — Arriving at the island in pairs during 

 the latter part of March, they associate in pairs until their 

 single egg is laid, after which the one not sitting re- 

 mains near the entrance to the burrow; the presence of 

 this sentinel — which may be either male or female, as both 

 birds take part in incubation — indicates a nest with a 

 bird sitting. 



They burrow when possible; otherwise, make use of nat- 

 ural cavities anywhere on the island for a nest. Sometimes 

 a few pieces of weeds are carried in, but often no material 

 is used in the nest. 



