32 THE CONDOR Vol. XIII edge my indebtedness to Mr. Ritchie for his vigorous, uuselfish work throughout our entire stay. On the last trip I was compelled through lack of other means of trausporta- tion to make the return trip in a large sea-going cedar cauoe, which was mamied by two stalwart pearl divers. These islauds are now isolated. A year ago a noisy little steamer umde the trip down the forty miles of intervening water from San Diego irregularly every week, but this has been abandoned now and the islands are only visited by coasting fishermeu, or perhaps smugglers. My first impression of the two middle islands, where most of these observa- tions were taken, was unfavorable. Devoid of vegetation around the sides except for a spot here and there of scrub ice plant or wiud blown cactus, they appear barren and desolate. By the time Petrels are ready to lay the Brandt Cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) and Westcru Gulls (La?ws occidcnlalis), which make their homes on the rocks, are deserting their smumer homes. Skirting the outlyiug rocks, au occasional flitting Corolmdo Song Sparrow (.F/elospiza nl. caronatotwm) Fig. 16. MIDDLE ISLAND, LOS CORONADOS, SItOXV- ING AREA OCCUPIED BY PETRELS or San Clemente House Finch( ( ?trpodacus mc.vicanus ticmenD's) were the only laud birds seen. These with an alarmed Black Oystercatcher (155wmatopus betchmani) and a few Western Gulls perched overhead on prominent rocks were all the birds in sight. Not until we had landed could the amphitheatre, the chief home of the Petrels, be distinctly seen. But here in a few hours time, on my very first visit in 1905, I found enough to prove my first impression entirely wrong. Desolate? No! For hundreds of stout little leathered beings resorted to this spot for their summer home. Theeasternmost of the two middle islands I found to be the most accessible; for while landing on the other middle island our cedar canoe was overturned iu deep water, and shot gun, kodak, and egg boxes were drenched, but finally rescued. On this island I found Sbcorro Petrels in the greatest numbers, and with hard work succeeded in collecting a represeutative series of eggs on July 3, 1909. Mr. Ritchie and I took in all twenty-two sets of Socorro Petrel and five sets of Black Petrel. At this date the eggs were fresh, but the Socorro Petrels were not breeding corn-
