PREHISTORIC MAN IN CALIFORNIA. 23 



Phalacrocorax penicillatus (Brant's Cormorant), breeds 

 almost in countless numbers; Phalacrocorax dilophus (double- 

 crested cormorants), breeds common, but not so abundantly 

 as the last species; Phalacrocorax violaceus (violet green 

 cormorant), not very common; Lunda cirrhata (Tufted Puffin), 

 breeds in large numbers, and is one of the most interesting 

 birds found on the Island; Uria Columba (Pigeon Guillemot), 

 breeds quite common in the caves just above the tides. I 

 also found two other species of birds which I am unable to 

 class. They will be forwarded to Dr. Elliott Coues for identi- 

 fication. I also saw on the south side of the main island, 

 young of the Pelionetta perspicillata, the surf duck, which 

 satisfies me that they breed here. My stay on the Island was 

 of about twenty-five days, so I feel quite confident that few 

 birds, if any, escaped my notice that breed here. I hope to 

 again visit the Island next year, before the birds are so far 

 advanced in breeding, as I am confident that I could make 

 many notes of interest. 



PREHISTORIC MAN IN CALIFORNIA. 



BY DR. LORENZO G. YATES. 



The recent futile attempt to foist upon the public some 

 gypsum or marble statues as fossil human bodies having 

 caused some discussion before this society and elsewhere in 

 relation to the celebrated Calaveras skull, and incidentally 

 general remarks upon the genuine relics found heretofore upon 

 the Pacific Coast, has led the writer to take a retrospective 

 view of the authenticity of the relics of the prehistoric inhab- 

 itants of this State which have come under his observation 

 within the past twenty years. First, in relation to the famous 

 Calaveras skull: The report read by Prof. J. D. Whitney 

 before the California Academy of Natural Sciences, July 16th, 

 1866, says: 



"This skull was taken from a shaft sunk on a mining claim 



