CALIFORNIA WATER BIRDS. I97 



They were apparently thoroughly tired out. Many were 

 so weak of wing they struck the crests of the waves fre- 

 quently in flying short distances to keep out of the way 

 of the boat. Two young California Murres, each accom- 

 panied by an adult, were found five miles out from land 

 in the direction of Pt. Santa Cruz. Quite a number of old 

 birds were on the water, and many solitary ones and little 

 parties in files were flying down the coast. A Pacific 

 Fulmar — a female of the dark phase — was captured 

 about three miles off shore. It was very lean and in very 

 worn and faded plumage, and had apparently not bred 

 during the season. Four or five miles out a good many 

 Dark-bodied Shearwaters flew by the boat in a southward 

 direction. Only one Pink-footed Shearwater was ob- 

 served. Not so many Northern Phalaropes were encoun- 

 tered as on the day before. 



There was almost a complete cessation of migration on 

 the. 8th, 9th, and loth. Cassin's Auklets were not as 

 abundant on the 8th as the day before. Between six and 

 ten miles northwest of Pt. Pinos a good many little com- 

 panies, however, were resting on the water. Fewer were 

 seen on the 9th. They flew without difliculty. A con- 

 siderable number of California Murres, in little groups, 

 were on the ocean between Pt. Pinos and Seal Rocks on 

 the loth. A few Dark-bodied Shearwaters and one Pink- 

 footed Sheawater were noted on the 8th. On the 9th, 

 over ten miles northwest of Pt. Pinos, quite a number 

 were seen flying eastward. A few others, nearer Pt. 

 Pinos, were flying south. A few Northern Phalaropes 

 were seen on the 8th and 9th. None of them were on 

 the water, and as many went up the coast as down on the 

 latter day. Only a small flock of Black Turnstones was 

 at Seal Rocks on the loth, the great flock that had been 

 there having disappeared. 



