ZooL.— Vol. II.] LOOMIS— CALIFORNIA WATER BIRDS. 361 



In a female, Feb. 22, the jugulum and breast are white, 

 relieved b}'^ a few brown feathers, some of them very dark; 

 the abdomen is variegated with light and dark brown and 

 whitish. Another female, March 14, has the fore-breast 

 brownish white in sharp contrast with the dark color of the 

 posterior lower parts. 



Phalacrocorax penicillatus. Brandt's Cormorant. — 



Visiting Seal Rocks May 14, I found that the nesting was 

 just commencing. A few nests had nearly reached com- 

 pletion, and several of these contained incomplete sets of 

 eggs. In most cases, however, construction had advanced 

 no further than starting the foundation. The rookery 

 appeared to be larger than in 1894, having encroached upon 

 the portion of the islet exposed to view from the land. 

 About the bay, Shags were abundant. 



The nuptial filaments are about half-grown in an adult 

 female of Feb. 28. Six July birds (three of each sex) have 

 the lower parts largely greenish brown, somewhat mottled 

 in appearance. The upper parts in five of them are green- 

 ish brown, tending toward bottle-green. With one excep- 

 tion, all these brown birds possess at least traces of nuptial 

 filaments. 



Phalacrocorax pelagicus. Pelagic Cormorant. — At 

 first they were very common on the bay, but as the breed- 

 ing season drew near all disappeared save a few stragglers. 



Besides the adults in fine feather, there were a few in 

 worn brown dress, apparently diseased birds. An indi- 

 vidual of this kind, taken May 7, has traces of the mature 

 plumage. Its generative organs showed no functional 

 enlargement. A female, Dec. 28, has indications of the 

 white flank-patches and filamentous feathers of the neck. 



Pelec. nus californicus. California Brown Pelican. — 

 They were not common until June. Both white- and dark- 

 breasted birds were present. 



A male, Feb. 4, from Mazatlan, Mexico, has the entire 

 feathered portion of the head straw yellow. 



