FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 205 



The tufted puffin, unlike corniculata, normally digs a burrow 

 in the turf for its nest, though it will nest in a natural open- 

 ing, such as a crevice among jumbled blocks of stone. 



The natives say that the tufted puffin winters among the Aleu- 

 tian Islands. Apparently, they begin to arrive at their nesting 

 sites in May. 



Arnold (1948) who recorded data on populations of North 

 Pacific pelagic birds, makes the comment that — 



These data indicate that the Fulmar, Tufted Puffin (Lunda cirrhata) , 

 Shearwater (Slender-billed?) (Puffinus sp.), and Black-footed Albatross are 

 the only birds that could be classed as truly universal pelagic birds in the 

 area concerned . . . During periods of high winds and rough water, the 

 Tufted Puffin was the only bird of the four with a decided tendency to "ride 

 out the storm" on the water rather than remain aloft. 



The above statement is understandable when one considers the 

 inability of the puffin to remain aloft in soaring flight. Remain- 

 ing in the water is a necessity, but it also is proof of its hardi- 

 hood. 



Family CUCULIDAE 



Cuculus saturatus: Oriental Cuckoo 

 Cuculus saturatus horsfieldi 



On June 29, 1937, at Rat Island, Steenis saw a strange bird 

 on the beach as he was returning from the day's field trip. He 

 shot it for a specimen and thus obtained the first cuckoo that 

 has been recorded for the Aleutian district. 



Deignan (1951) recently reexamined 3 specimens of Cuculus 

 from St. Lawrence Island, Wales, and St. Paul Island for the 

 benefit of the A.O.U. Committee on Nomenclature, and he con- 

 cluded that all 3 are referable to Cuculus saturatus horsfieldi. 



1 then called attention to this specimen from the Aleutian Is- 

 lands and forwarded a second specimen from St. Lawrence Island 

 to Duvall for determination. He and Deignan examined these 



2 specimens and reported them to be the same as the other 3 

 (Murie 1952). The five North American specimens, then, are 

 finally resolved as Cuculus saturatus horsfieldi. 



Family STRIGIDAE 



Bubo virginianus: Great Horned Owl 

 Bubo virginianus algistus 



This owl, of course, is confined to the wooded regions. Osgood 

 (1904) observed several at the base of Alaska Peninsula and 



