Page:Condor15(2).djvu/39

 Mar., 1913
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BIR)S OBSERVED ON SANTA BARBARA ISLANDS 89 capa, but very few of their burrows were accessible. Those examined con- tained either yo,.mg or egg-shells (July 5). Several birds noted flying about the west end of Santa Cruz (.July IO). On' Prince Island the largest colony was found. Numerous burrows examined contained young from a few days to sev- er'a! weeks old. The birds when disturbed circled over the water and returned to their burrows only to repeat the performance (July I2). Ptyehoramphns aleutieus. Cassin Auklet. A number of these birds seen as we approached Santa Barbara and one was taken. A thorough search of the northwest end of Santa Barbara netted nothing but the wings of those birds whose bodies had been. eaten, probably by cats (July 2-3. On Prince Island a very large colony nested on the northwest and north slopes, where there was ground in which it was possible for them to burrow. In many places the ground was so undermined by the nesting places of these birds as to render walking dif- ficult. At this season of the year the eggs had all hatched, as all the bnrrows examined contained good sized young (July I2). Brachyramphus hyp01eucus. Xantus Murrelet. One egg of this bird taken from a hole on the northeast point of Santa Barbara Island, and several wings found (July 3). On Anacapa, three dried-up remains, one whole egg and nu- merous shells testified to the breeding of this bird on the island during this or some previous season. No live birds were noted (July 5). Cepphus c01umba. Pigeon Guillemot. These birds.were seen carrying some material into inaccessible caves on the northern part of Santa Barbara Island, in- dicating that they had young (July 3). On Anacapa a pair were noted near the east end of the island. On the west end three nesting caves were found each containing a single well-grown youngster (July 5-6). These birds were breed- ing in considerable numbers at the Painted Caves on Santa Cruz (July o). Numbers seen entering low caves on Prince Island (July 2). Uria tr0ille calif0rnica. California Murre. At Prince Island there were sev- eral small colonies of these birds on the high overhanging ledges. The odor, filth and continual pig-like, grunting noises emitted by the numerous young made close inspection of these ledges quite an tinpleasant task (July 2). Several eggs were collected, however, and they proved to be addled. One egg, in fact, which. had been dug from the accumulations of guano, turned out to be an over-ripe specimen which tested the collector's stomach during the blowing operation. Larus 0ccidentalis. Western Gull. The first night out, while becalmed in a heavy fog some ten miles from Santa Barbara Island, these birds were seen pass- ing the boat, all flying unerringly i.n a southwesterly direction toward the island (July ). The young of this species on Santa Barbara were pretty well grown and proved very agile when pursued. They had a very amusing habit of "play- ing ostrich" by tucking their heads under a thick weed and closing their eyes, leaving their downy bodies entirely exposed (July 2-3). Colonies containing young were also found on Anacapa (July 5) and on Prince Island (July t2). Larus heermanni. Heermann Gull. A number of these birds were seen near Santa Cruz Island (July 6). Puffinus creat0pus. Pink-footed Shearwater. Seen in the channel between Santa Barbara and Anacapa islands (July 4)- I'uffinus giseus. Sooty Shearxvater. Seen in company with the preceding species. 0cean0dr0ma h0m0chr0a. Ashy Petrel. Found breeding at the "Painted Ctves" on Santa Cruz Island (July