ZooL.— Vol. II.] LOOMIS— CALIFORNIA WATER BIRDS. 293 



slightly overcast. No migratory movement appeared to be 

 in progress. Loons were scarce. The few noted flew up 

 the coast. Black-vented Shearwaters were generally dis- 

 persed, apparently bent on going a fishing. Between four 

 and five miles northwest of the buoy, a flock of thirty 

 Cassin's Auklets was found on the water. A couple and 

 two trios were passed on the way out. All took wing read- 

 ily, showing no signs of fatigue. A patch of drifting kelp 

 in the vicinity of the flock of Auklets afforded a resting 

 place to three Elegant Terns, an immature Mew or Short- 

 billed Gull, and a company of Western and Heermann's 

 Gulls. The Red Phalaropes had almost wholly departed. 

 An Eared Grebe and three Rhinoceros Auklets were seen. 



October jo. A clear sunrise and a land breeze ushered 

 in the morning. After nine the wind veered round into the 

 west, freshening into a stiff sea breeze that drove us from 

 the ocean, two miles northwest of the buoy, to the shelter 

 of Point Pinos, where some Pelicans and Gulls (principally 

 Heermann's) and more than a thousand Black-vented 

 Shearwaters were feasting upon sardines in the kelp. 

 Straggling Shearwaters, coming from the interior of the 

 bay, swelled the gathering. 



Two Loons were on the water, and a few on wing, as 

 many traveling up the coast as down. Red Phalaropes 

 showed no advance in numbers, a group of four and several 

 individuals being all that were met with. A new arrival was 

 an adult Glaucous-winged Gull. 



October ji. The only southbound travelers seen during 

 the voyage of the forenoon were Loons and Black-vented 

 Shearwaters. There were a great many of the latter, 

 chiefly flocks following the shore near the kelp. A school 

 of sardines crossed their path, but not a Shearwater stopped. 

 After ten the flight weakened somewhat, and a gathering 

 of several hundred was formed between the buoy and the 

 land. These birds seemed to be tired, sitting motionless 

 with heads drawn in close to the body or tucked under the 

 wing. Stragglers, dropping out from the passing bands, 



( 2 ) February 9, 1900. 



