8 THE BIRDS 
from San Francisco Bay south to western Mexico; winters 
from Monterey, California, and Gulf of Mexico south to 
Peru and Brazil, and on west coast of Africa from 
Gibralta to Angola. 
There is practically no difference made by the local 
watermen between this and the former species, both being 
called Gannet Strikers, while the eggs differ so slightly 
to them, they pay little heed to the Caspians. The Royal 
Terns are much more numerous, a large colony still breed- 
ing on one of our coastal islands. They did, however, for 
a number of years during the overwhelming destruction 
of some of the following species for millinery trade, desert 
our coast entirely, but it has only been within the last few 
years that they have become established as breeding birds 
once more. The size of their eggs makes them eagerly 
sought after by the fishermen, large quantities being put 
away each season in brine for winter use. Fresh eggs 
are seldom found before July 1st, and two eggs constitute 
a full set, which are laid in a hollow in the sandy beach. 
The ground is a grayish-white, specked and spotted with 
blackish-brown and fainter markings of lavender. Size of 
eges, 2.60x1.70. These birds were rather too large for 
the ladies’ hats, thus they escaped the slaughter accorded 
their smaller kinsmen during the four years of activity 
along this line. With ample protection there is no reason 
why they should not be established as breeding birds on 
a number of suitable islands off our coast. They do not 
winter with us, arriving the last week in May, and de- 
parting about the middle of September. Only one brood 
a season. 
