June, 1919] Birds of the Katmai Region 477 



Fratercula corniculata (Naum.). Horned Puffin. 



A species often observed. Nests were located in crevices of 

 the rocks of the sea wall. Hundreds of pairs were seen and 

 when walking along the beach below the sea wall when the tide 

 was low one could see specimens every few feet flying from their 

 nesting sites. Specimens appeared to use crevices in the rocks 

 as security from storms and natural enemies or as places in 

 which to rest as well as for nesting places. 



Cephus columba Pal. Pigeon Guillemot. 



Common. Nests in the crevices of rocks like the puffins. 

 Often seen in flocks of a half dozen or more resting on the 

 surface of the water. A series of specimens shows variations 

 from those very much mottled with white all over to black with 

 a large white spot on each wing. They utter a shrill whistle 

 when frightened and resent being approached too closely. 



Rissa tridactyla pollicaris Ridgw. Pacific Kittiwake. 



We did not see these birds at Katmai until about the tenth 

 of August when they appeared in large flocks. At times they 

 composed a large percentage of the gulls present in Kashvik 

 Bay. Flocks of hundreds were seen together commonly. 



Larus glaucescens Naum. Glauctis-winged Gull. 



This very large gull was common on the Katmai coast during 

 our whole stay in the region. They nested all along the sea 

 where the rock wall was present. Soon after our arrival they 

 began nesting and before we came away the young had grown 

 to full size and were about with the old ones. The adults are 

 very noisy birds, especially in the vicinity of their nests. Ravens, 

 foxes and other animals are their enemies and keep them in a 

 state of uproar most of the time. Their notes often become a 

 source of annoyance for so long as one remains near the shore 

 he is never out of the sound of their voices. Many nests were 

 located and it was found that they lay from two to three eggs, 

 usually on shelves of almost inaccessible rocks but at times on 

 top of the cliffs where they can be reached easily from above. 

 The young remain among the rock crevices and run -under cover 

 when they realize they are observed. We constructed an 

 improvised ladder to use in studying the nests, eggs and young, 

 and were able to see many of them. Often when the young 



