ZooL.— Vol. II.] LOOMIS— CALIFORNIA WATER BIRDS. 285 



October j. An influx of California Brown Pelicans evi- 

 dently took place during the night or in the early morning 

 hours, for more and larger companies flew in and out of the 

 bay than upon previous occasions. Bands of Black-vented 

 Shearwaters, varying from half a dozen to about fifty indi- 

 viduals, went down the coast at brief intervals during the 

 entire time I was upon the water. Although it was clear, 

 they doubled the Point near the buoy. Within the bay, off 

 the Laboratory, few approached nearer the land than a 

 mile. A Tufted Puffin and six Loons likewise appeared 

 from above and passed on. A solitary Loon also came into • 

 the bay from the south, the first one to pause in its migra- 

 tion, so far as noticed. Not a single Dark-bodied Shear- 

 water made its appearance. 



October 5. At 5 a. m. there was a heavy fog which van- 

 ished when the sun rose. Quarter to nine the fog set in 

 again, but lasted only about fifteen minutes in the vicinity 

 of Point Pinos, a southwest breeze banking it up toward the 

 Santa Cruz shore. During the clear interval many flocks 

 of Black-vented Shearwaters were pushing down the coast. 

 The flight stopped with the advent of the second fog. After 

 it receded there was only a slight revival, perhaps because 

 the opposite side of the bay was lost to view. The fore- 

 noon's cruise also disclosed a few Northern Phalaropes — a 

 company migrating, and several loiterers flying about in 

 various directions. During the middle of the afternoon a 

 great congregation of Cormorants and Gulls (chiefly young 

 Western), with a score or more of Pelicans, followed a 

 school of sardines to the surf at the Laboratory. There 

 were no Black-vented Shearwaters among them, the wave 

 of the morning apparently having gone by without leaving 

 any stragglers stranded to join the chase. 



October 6. There was a low fog all the forenoon. Just 

 after eight it increased in density, and soon Black-vented 

 Shearwaters appeared near the surf at the Laboratory, flock 

 after flock passing outward toward the ocean. They seemed 

 to lose the way after venturing beyond Point Pinos, a gen- 

 eral return into the bay taking place, followed by much 



