August, 1897. 
Water-Birds Observed. 
25 
14. Oceanodroma melania —Black Petrel. 
A large dark colored Petrel seen in small numbers on several 
occasions, was identified by Mr. Gaylord as of this species. 
It was seen between Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands on May 
12; between San Nicolas and San Clemente on May 27; and 
between San Clemente and Catalina, on June 8. 
Small Petrels of some kind were heard at night on the east 
end of San Nicolas, and at Mosquito Harbor on San Clemente, 
but no trace of them were to be found by day. We searched dili¬ 
gently for their burrows, but failed entirely. As Mr. Gaylord 
suggested, Petrels may have bred later in the Auklet burrows 
on Santa Barbara Island. 
15. Pkalacrocorax dilophus albociliatus —Farallone Cormorant. 
Immature birds were seen commonly about San Nicolas Island, 
but none were found breeding. On Santa Barbara Island, how¬ 
ever, this Cormorant was breeding in large numbers. Most of 
the birds were nest-building, and but two sets, of three and four 
fresh eggs were found—May 15. Their nests were made of 
coarse sticks and seaweeds, and built usually on the ground on 
the sloping sides of the island above the rocks; several nests were 
built in bushes from one to three feet above the ground. The 
nests of this species of Cormorant were never in close colonies, 
but scattered promiscuously wherever the birds fancied. Single 
nests were frequently found by themselves a long distance from 
any others. One specimen of the Farallone Cormorant was 
saved. 
16. Pkalacrocorax penicillatus —Brandt’s Cormorant. 
Seen commonly everywhere we went. Mr. Gaylord found a 
small colony nesting on the north side of San Nicolas Island. 
On Santa Barbara Island this bird was nesting in large rookeries. 
These rookeries were generally situated nearly to the base of 
the precipitous sides of the island, often but a few feet above 
water line. A sloping shelf of rock or heap of fallen boulders 
was usually preferred. The nests were built as close as they 
could rest. They were made of turf and seaweed, and were 
filthy with excrement, so different from the neat-looking nests of 
the Farallone Cormorant. On May 15, we took about 30 sets 
of three and four eggs each. They were in all stages of incu¬ 
bation, and several nests contained young just hatched. One 
specimen of this Cormorant was taken. 
