138 
THE CONDOR 
I Vol. IV 
A visit to the puffin nesting place on Egg Island, September 24, found the old 
grounds nearly deserted, yet most of the old birds must have been feeding young, 
as nearly every puffin was carrying small fish crosswise in its bill. These were 
from two to five inches long and consequently extended conspicuously at either 
side. A horned puffin flying over me as I sat concealed beside a boulder, was 
evidently greatly startled, for he gave a squawk and scattered his mouthful of 
fish, some of which were alive. Three species have been identified for me by Dr. 
C. H. Gilbert as: Ammodytes personates (sand-lance), Pygosteus pmigitius (stickle- 
back), and Mesopus olidus (smelt). 
A well feathered young bird taken from its burrow on Egg Island, Septem- 
ber 24, may be described as follows: Top of head, sides of neck, back, wings, and 
tail, glossy black; chin and throat dull black; cheeks light gray; breast and abdo- 
men white; a narrow line of white along uppermost lesser wing coverts as in the 
adult; lower part of back, upper tail coverts, and flanks thickly covered with dark 
down; thin patches of down on head, sides of throat, and upper breast; a little 
white down in middle of lower breast. 
Cepphus columba Pallas. — Near Besboro Island on August 6, there were two 
or three birds of this species. 
Uria troile californica (Bryant). — Murres were very abundant on Egg Island 
where there was a large nesting colony. The majority of eggs were on any con- 
venient ledge or flat rock. Others were found on the floor and rock shelves in 
natural caves large enough to admit a man. Many eggs were knocked off their 
resting places by the birds in their haste to escape. Eggs taken here July 10 
were fresh. September 24 a few murres were brooding small young. 
On the cliffs at Cape Denbigh there was a large colony of murres, and on 
August 8 most of them were brooding young. No eggs were observed at this date. 
The only specimen of murre preserved is californica. 
Stercorarius longicaudus Vieillot. — Two long-tailed jaegers were among the 
first birds seen at Golofnin Bay, June 28, where they were walking about in a 
small marsh. Later they were seen commonly in St. Michael harbor. They pre- 
fer to rob the gulls rather than pick up fish or ship refuse for themselves. It was 
a common occurrence to see three or four jaegers in pursuit of a small gull which 
had secured a choice bit of food too large to be swallowed at once. In fact, it was 
the case of the man-o’-war bird and boob)^ over again. 
