34 
TIIK COXUOR 
Vol. XIII 
Nearly always the eggs were not quite at the end of the passage. While probably 
not a premeditated fact, this often helped the birds to escape by frantically digging 
into another passage. The strong musky odor of the Petrel does not become dis- 
agreeable, at least not for several hours. From the moment your hand touches 
the feathery mass until he makes his exit, the Petrel makes use of this weapon 
of defense. Drawing the upper and lower mandibles widel}^ apart, he emits a 
thin strong stream of musky oil. 
I found Petrels nesting far above the sea on top of the islands. The main colony 
was at least thirty feet above the water, and none were as close to the water’s edge 
as were the INIurrelets, which I often found in caves whose entrances were sulmierged 
in deep water. As a rule the Petrels nested in more secure localities than the Mur- 
relets, and were less often found with damaged egg shells. Half the Murrelets 
eggs found were dented or slightly cracked by loose pebbles from the roof of the 
burrow, and a set with an entirely unblemished shell was uncommon. The great- 
est difference in the nesting of the two Petrels was in burrowing sites and laying 
dates. The Black Petrels lay earlier. They were more abundant than the Socorro 
Petrel on the hi?'^'est middle island, and while digging Murrelets I found several 
burrows containing Petrels. Here also among .the hard boulders we found burrows 
where the brooding bird was in full view" and yet inaccessible, so small was the 
opening. No young birds or immatures of either form were seen, and from incu- 
bation stages noted I should judge the hatching point is reached between July l.o 
and August Id. We saw little of the birds except in their burrows, but they were 
very active at night. 
Of the skins I collected, there is great variation shown in the series of (). socor- 
rocnsis. In two examples the upper tail coverts are white, with dusky median 
stripes; while in others these coverts are entireh" dusky. There is a marked vari- 
ation in size, also. 
The eggs of (). soroD'ooisis are white and either minutely speckled with 
lavender and brow"n, in a wreath about the larger end, or clear and immaculate. 
Average measurements fin inches), 1.20X0.90. 
The eggs of O. nie/ania are white with almost imperceptible traces of brownish 
speckling. They do not show variation in size or color as much as do those of 
(K sororrooisis. The eggs average in inches, 1.4dXl.0d. Specimens of (). incla- 
)iia are unvarying in plumage. My series of skins show the uniform sooty-black 
color with the exception of the usual light wing-patch, which is characteristic of the 
dark-colored species of Oceanodroma. 
FROM FIELD AND STUDT 
A Second Occurrence of the Bohemian Waxwing in Southern California. — In Tiik 
Condor, voI. \'II, page 77, a Bohemian Waxwing is reconleil as ha\-ing been taken at N’ictorville, 
December .11, 1904. II is the first record of that bird in California outside of I’lnmas and 
Lassen counties. 
On December 1. 1, I'UO, I took an adult female Bobemian Waxwing [Bontbycilla garriila) , six 
miles east of Daggett, ,San Bernardino Count}’, wbicb is about thirty miles north and fifteen 
miles east of Abctorville. The bird was alone and was perched on the topmost limb of a dead 
cottonwood when 1 shot it. 
I'be elevation here is about lUPP feet. Unlike the previous record we bad bad no storm 
in the vicinity, the weather ba\’ing been nnnsually mild. — CiiKSTKR L.-vmh. 
