178 * THE CONDOR Vol. XX 



the silvery throat of a grebe. Whenever a bird moved on the water, he started 

 a series of circles. The Franklin Gull, pivoting around, made a series of circu- 

 lar ripples, while a diving grebe made a double series, one set for body, one for 

 bill. A grebe was also seen riding with concentric rings ahead of it. 



When my week on the lake was over, I realized what would be the delights 

 of a close intimate study of a nesting colony of these original birds ; for while 

 my study had been a long distance one, it was enough to fill me with enthusi- 

 asm for the rarely beautiful birds — the Grebes of the Silvery Throats. 



{To be continued) 



SOME OCEANIC BIRDS FROM OFF THE COAST OF WASHINGTON 

 AND VANCOUVER ISLAND 



By STANTON WARBURTON, JR. 



WITH ONE PHOTO 



DURING the summer of 1917 the writer, through the courtesy of Mr. E. 

 A. Kitchin of the Glacier Fish Company, was able to take a trip on one of 

 the company's halibut fishing boats. One week, from June 26 to July 3, 

 1917, was spent fishing on the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the state of Wash- 

 ington and Vancouver Island. As I had very few duties connected with the 

 boat's routine, most of my time was spent in observing and collecting birds. The 

 boat was a gasoline launch about sixty feet long, with accommodations for ten 

 people. One day was spent opposite Grays Harbor, Washington, and the rest of 

 the time in the vicinity of Vancouver Island. The boat carried a liberal supply 

 of ice in which the fish were kept, which made it possible to take good care of 

 the specimens collected. Luckily the weather was excellent, so good in fact that 

 all birds shot were very easily picked up. 



The captain, Joe Magher, was very much interested in the work and did all 

 in his power to make the trip a success. Many of the specimens could not have 

 been secured but for the interest he took and the trouble he went to in collecting 

 them. The crew also were always ready to help me in any way, and went to 

 considerable pains to keep my specimens on ice. 



On Tuesday morning, June 26, we left Tacoma, and arrived at Cape Flat- 

 tery, Washington, on the morning of the next day. Here the Tufted Puffins 

 (Lunda cirrhata) were very common and exceedingly tame. The presence of 

 the boat did not seem to bother them in the least ; in fact, most of the time they 

 only swam out of its immediate path. The California Murre (Uria troille cal- 

 if or nica) was also quite common, but not as much so as the Puffins. The Cali- 

 fornia Murres were always seen in pairs ; one pair was collected. 



On Thursday, June 28, about thirty miles west of Grays Harbor, a pair each 

 of the Sooty Shearwater (Fuffinus fuliginosus) and Pink-footed Shearwater 

 (Puffinus creatopus) were collected. Both species were quite common about 

 here, many flocks of each being seen ; but perhaps there were more Sooty Shear- 

 waters than Pink-footed. While in flocks they seemed rather wary, but when 

 single birds were encountered they were very tame. They were feeding on the 

 fish which the fishermen left as worthless, these fish, caught at a great depth, be- 



