x22 THE CONDOR VoL. V ing in clouds from their resting places and swinging around us and out to sea, passing others which were en route for the rocks. Tufted puffins, like Gargan- tuan black swifts, sped like animated bullets to and fro; California murres, less partial to flight, terminated their journeys in the water and dotted the waves in every direction; cormorants winged their heavy way from the detached rocks near the main island, th6 different species readily distinguishable by the characteristic breeding plumages. The odor of sea-fowl and guano filled the air, and from the rookeries came the ceaseless chatter and croaking of thousands of birds. Photography being the main object in view, after settling our traps we started out to look the rookeries over with a view of picking the best spots for next day's work. We soon placed the different colonies of murres, ?ulls and cormorants, and after securing a few photos, returned to a late supper and bed. June 3rd found us early at work, and d?ring the forenovon interesting photo- TUFT[D PUFFIN AT MOUTH OF BURROW graphs were secured, mainly of murres, pigeon guillemots, and Cassin auklets. The guillemots were found distributed fairly well over the island, thicker perhaps at the eastern end, where broken rock and detached granite boulders form many ideal nooks and crannies for nesting places. The eggs are two in number and are placed in the crevices of the rocks without any attempt at making a nest. These are striking birds in their sooty black dress, white wing-patches and vivid scarlet bills, eyes and feet. When disturbed by the approach of an intruder they open wide their bills and emit a peculiarly weak but penetrating "whistle." Several long-distance photos were secured but we could not get closer to them than twenty feet, and they were too wary to catch on the nest. With these birds, nesting was just fairly under way, nearly all the burrows holding a full complement of eggs. The Cassin auklets nest all over the island, wherever a suitable burrow is available. They are more of a burrowing bird than the guillemots, often excavat-
