ZooL.— Vol. II.] LOOMIS— CALIFORNIA WATER BIRDS. 287 



Grebe (the fourth — the third having been seen the day 

 before), a Murre, and a Northern Phalarope were on the 

 water. Three other Phalaropes flew southward. 



October g. A clear sunrise was followed at half past 

 eight by a little fog at the buoy, lasting about a quarter of 

 an hour. The rest of the day the sky was almost cloudless. 

 Save three White-winged Scoters and a few Black-vented 

 Shearwaters, no birds, so far as seen, went south. A still 

 smaller number of the Shearwaters cruised about, appar- 

 ently seeking food. Several hundred yards off the sandy 

 beach north of Monterey, a decoy was tossed overboard 

 and a passing Western Gull shot. This was the signal for 

 a great concourse to collect overhead, for the beach was 

 thronged with Gulls. Adult California Gulls were conspic- 

 uous in the gathering, forming a large and rather compact 

 body among the more numerous Western Gulls. Before 

 this only one California Gull had been recognized — an 

 immature example, September 28, Further offshore a band 

 of eight Elegant Terns decoyed in like manner, and in 

 another place, one of seven. Previous to this occasion only 

 half a dozen had been met with. A first occurrence was 

 the Red-breasted Merganser — two females along the rocky 

 shore of the inner bay. A couple of Northern Phalaropes 

 floating on the surface, several Royal Terns, and a Pom- 

 arine Jaeger were the only other birds noticed except Peli- 

 cans, Brandt's Cormorants, and Pelagic Cormorants. 



October 10. Migratory movement appeared to be con- 

 fined to Loons, Surf Scoters, and Northern Phalaropes. 

 About a score of the first and several companies of the 

 second were observed. They passed rapidly southward, 

 none lagging behind. The Phalaropes were limited to a 

 party of three. Not a Shearwater of any species was 

 detected. The preponderance of young over adult West- 

 ern Gulls was marked, the ranks of the former having been 

 reenforced since September. 



October 12. An afternoon breeze on the nth freshened 

 into a gale. The wind died out during the night and on the 



