ZooL.— Vol. II.] LOOMIS— CALIFORNIA WATER BIRDS. 291 



largest numbering over thirty), a squad of eight White- 

 winged Scoters, and some undetermined Ducks passed south, 

 following the coast-Hne closely. I did not observe any 

 Ducks on the water or any flying up the coast. 



October 23. A high fog occurred through the day. 

 Migration was stronger in Loons than at any time since my 

 arrival. There were a few loiterers — one upon the water, 

 the first for the season. In other birds, except Ducks 

 (mainly Surf Scoters), southward movement had nearly 

 come to a halt. In the vicinity of the buoy scattered Black- 

 vented Shearwaters were looking for food. Between one 

 and two miles to the northwest, a flock with Gulls was 

 preying upon sardines. Returning at midday to Point Pinos 

 after a cruise five miles offshore, several hundred Black- 

 vented Shearwaters were found congregated in the kelp, a 

 school of sardines having sought refuge in its fastnesses. 

 Associated with the Shearwaters were many Gulls, chiefly 

 Heermann's, but also Western and California. The Shear- 

 waters displayed extreme reluctance to take flight, some 

 only rising to avoid being run down by the boat. Even the 

 report of the gun did not cause them to retreat further than 

 several hundred yards. Other noteworthy birds were: 

 Four Rhinoceros Auklets, one Pigeon Guiflemot, a Murre, 

 two Royal Terns, and a Dark-bodied Shearwater. 



October 24.. Many Loons and Ducks were on migration. 

 A slight retrograde movement occurred also in the former. 

 One company of Loons numbered eleven and another 

 seventeen. The Ducks seemed to be largely Surf Scoters. 

 Of the White-winged, but a single band was identified with 

 certainty. Black-vented Shearwaters were quite numerous, 

 and flew about promiscuously, the majority below Point 

 Pinos straggling up the coast. A Dark-bodied Shearwater 

 (a ' pensioner ' ) and several Northern Phalaropes were the 

 only other birds of particular note. 



October 26. It was slack water in the tide of southward 

 movement. More Loons went up the coast than down. 

 During the forenoon a goodly number of Black-vented 

 Shearwaters were skimming over the surface of the ocean, 



