Vor. IIT] BECK—CALIFORNIA WATER BIRDS 61 
These facts do not argue well for the validity of “Brachy- 
ramphus craveru.” 
16. Cepphus columba. Piczon GuILLEMoT.—Only an occa- 
sional straggler occurs in winter. In March “Sea Pigeons” 
reappear, and become very common with the advance of 
spring. During the height of the breeding season they retire 
to their breeding places, forsaking the vicinity of Point Pinos 
save when on fishing excursions. By the middle of September 
they cease to be plentiful. The Academy’s series of one 
hundred and thirty-six specimens fairly exhibits the various 
plumages incident to this species. 
17. Uria troille. Murre—Another instance of irregular 
occurrence in the winter season is afforded by this well-known 
resident species. During some years they are more abundant 
in December and January than in others. Visitors, apparently 
coming from nearby rookeries and bent on fishing, are com- 
mon early in summer. The young-of-the-year, unable to fly, 
begin to arrive toward the end of July, the 24th being the 
earliest date of occurrence noted by me. 
18. Megalestris skua. Sxua—The third edition of the A. 
O. U. Check-List ignores the specimen of the Skua obtained 
by Colonel Pike “off Monterey,” at one time in the possession 
of the late George N. Lawrence and now in the American 
Museum of Natural History. It is therefore with no small 
degree of satisfaction that I record a male (No. 10,920 C. A. Si) 
shot by me on Monterey Bay on August 7, 1907. 
19. Stercorarius pomarinus. PoMARINE JAEGER.—Occurs in 
the vicinity of Point Pinos in every month in the year, but it 
is really common only during its passage southward in August, 
September, and October. Intermediate phases predominate. 
The extreme dark phase is not infrequent, but the extreme 
light phase is rare. The Academy’s series of one hundred and 
seventy specimens represents all of these styles. 
These jaegers pursue the gulls and terns, but seldom, if 
ever, molest the shearwaters with whom they often fish. 
20. Stercorarius parasiticus. Parasitic JAEGER.—Not nearly 
as common as its larger relative, the Pomarine Jaeger; still it 
is by no means a rarity. It is most numerous in August and 
September. My latest fall date is November 10, when one 
individual was taken. The Academy has eighty-three speci- 
mens exhibiting the extreme and intermediate phases, 
