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NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



to take advantage of the gannets, and about tbe breeding j^laces of tbe 

 latter tbey feed largely at tbe public expense. But few of tbem were 

 seen about tbe islands — two or tbree pairs at Isabel and half a dozen 

 pairs about tbe Tres Marias. A nest, wbicb bad been occupied earlier 

 in tbe season, was seen on tbe ledge of a rocky islet off tbe sbore of 

 Maria Oleofa May 30, and full grown young of tbe year were also seen 

 on tbe rocks. 



Sterna maxima Boddaert. Royal Tern. 



None were seen at Isabel Island, altbougb tbey were not uncommon 

 during April along tbe mainland coast. During May tbey were seen 

 in small parties about tbe sbores of all tbe Tres Marias group, wbere 

 tbey probably breed in very limited numbers. Tbe only specimen 

 saved was taken May 31 from a flock of six wbicb was coasting along 

 tbe beacb at Maria Cleofa. 



Sterna elegaus Gambel. Elegant Tern. 



Sterna galericulata Lawr., Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 317 (1874). 



Colonel Grayson found tbese terns on Isabel Island, but none were 

 seen by us. 



sterna fuliginosa crissalis (Lawr.). Pacific Sooty Tern. 



HaUplana fidiginosa var. crissalis Lawr. (ex Baird MS.), Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. 

 Hist., XIV, pp. 285, 301, June, 1871; Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 318, 

 1874. 



Tbese bandsome terns are common about Isabel Island wbere Colo- 

 nel Grayson found tbem breeding. My observations from the last of 

 April to tbe first of June led me to believe tbat at tbis season Isabel 

 Isl«nd is tbeir central roosting point. During tbe week we were cruis- 

 ing about Isabel and tbe Tres Marias islands many flocks were seen. 

 From about noon until tbe middle of tbe afternoon or later the flocks, 

 were generally flying directly toward Isabel at an altitude of from 

 50 to 200 yards above tbe water. Tbis was noted also near tbe islands^ 

 wbile we were crossing tbe straits between tbe Tres Marias, and off' 

 tbe mainland near San Bias. Many of tbe birds were percbed 

 along tbe top of an inaccessible rock just off Isabel, and were also 

 seen aligbtiug on tbe cliffs of tbe nortbern and nortbeastern side of 

 tbe island, but tbe boat was too unwieldy for us to venture near enougb 

 to closely examine tbese baunts. Tbe birds bave a peculiar sbrill 

 cry wbicb tbey often utter wbile feeding and wben flying about at 

 nigbt. Tbe nigbt before we landed on Isabel Island it was necessary 

 to ancbor about midway between tbe island and tbe sbore. Tbe wind 

 blew strongly in tbe afternoon but fell at sunset, a dead calm ensued, 

 and beavy clouds overspread tbe sky. During tbe day only a few 

 sooty terns bad been seen, but from about 9 p. m. until near daybreak 

 tbey were evidently mucb more numerous, for tbeir cries were beard at 

 short intervals. Several times the notes were uttered directly overhead! 

 and the birds seemed to be scarcely higher than the top of the mast,, 

 where they apparently paused and hovered while tbey examined the 



