208 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4tH SER. 
I took a nest with two fresh eggs. It was resting on the 
top of a broad cactus limb about nine feet above the ground. 
The nest was of the usual shallow construction which charac- 
terizes the nests of all of the species of this genus. It was 
built chiefly of grass and cactus fibre, with a few twigs on 
the outside. The bird did not leave the nest until I pulled a 
cactus limb away right beside her. She then left without a 
sound, and when I returned to the ground, she went back and 
looked into the nest without making any noise. 
I think that two more days of hunting on Champion would 
have made the species extinct there. 
14. Nesomimus macdonaldi: Hoop IsLAND MOCKINGBIRD 
Gardner-near-Hood and Hood islands. 
This mockingbird is the largest species of the genus and is 
found commonly on the two above-mentioned islands. As the 
islands are low, this species is confined to the arid region. 
Like the other mockingbirds, these were at home either on 
the ground or in the trees and bushes. They were good fly- 
ers as mockers go, and were excellent runners, often follow- 
ing a person along the sea beaches. 
Their food is very diversified; in fact they seem willing to 
eat almost anything. They feed among the rocks at low tide, 
on the beaches, and inland. One day several were noted at 
different times digging vigorously with their beaks into the 
wet sand at low tide. Seventeen were caught one day in 
June under an ordinary box propped up with a stick. It was 
baited with dead crabs, bread, and a breakfast food called 
“Grape Nuts.” Many birds were wary and would not go 
under, despite the tempting morsals. On one occasion I saw 
a mocker picking the eyelid of a pelican which had just been 
killed. On July 2, mockers devoured a young albatross in an 
ege which had been picked and from which we had driven 
the parent. Morsels of bread and meat from our lunches were 
always appreciated. No doubt insects form a considerable 
portion of their diet. 
They were common about the water bird colonies on the 
south and east sides of Hood. On June 25 I noted them as 
common among the nesting albatrosses, who paid no atten- 
