No. 3. — Reports on the Dredging Operations off the West Coast 
of Central America to the Galapagos, to the West Coast of Mex- 
(co, and im the Gulf of California, in charge of ALEXANDER 
AGASSIZ, carried on by the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer 
“ Albatross,’ during 1891, Lieut. Commander Z. L. TANNER, 
U.S. N., Commanding. 
Published by permission of MarsnaLL McDonaxp, U. S. Fish Commissioner. 
yp 
XVII. 
Birds from Cocos and Malpelo Islands, with Notes on Petrels obtained at 
Sea. By C. H. TowNsEND. 
Previous to the time the * Albatross" called at Cocos Island, on 
February 28, 1891, nothing was known of its birds further than that 
it was the home of a peculiar cuckoo (Coceyzus ferrugineus, Gould), a 
single specimen of which was obtained during the voyage of H. M. $. 
* Sulphur," about the year 1840. 
Although the collection made by the “ Albatross” is a small one, but 
three additional genera (and species) of land birds having been found, 
it is interesting as showing ornithological relationship between Cocos 
Island and the Galapagos Archipelago. 
Cocos Island is about 275 miles distant from Costa Rica, in latitude 
5° 32/ DT" N., longitude 87° 2! 10" W. It occupies a position nearly 
midway between the mainland and the islands of the Galapagos group, 
and with the exception of Malpelo Island, an inaccessible barren rock off 
the Gulf of Panama, is the only connecting point of land. Like the 
Galapagos Islands, it is of volcanic origin, and has received its peculiar 
animal and vegetable forms from the mainland. The American origin 
of the forms of life upon the Galapagos Islands was demonstrated by 
Darwin, who made researches there more than halfa century ago. It 
appears from a study of tho birds alone, that Cocos Island is similarly a 
VOL. XXVII. — NO, 3. 
