BIEDS. 43 



Like tbe Paroquet aud Crested Auklets, this species has a great preference for the deep western 

 half of Bering- Sea, except along the Aleutian chain. During the summer of 1881 we found them 

 breeding upon the islands in Bering Straits iu great abundance, especially about the Diomedes 

 and King or Okewulc Island. As we lay at anchor close under the Big Diomede the cliffs arose 

 almost sheer for hundreds of feet. Gazing up toward one of these banks we could see the air 

 filled with miuute black specks, which seemed to be floating by in an endless stream. TJie roar 

 from the rush of waves against the base of the cliffs was deadened by the strange humming chorus 

 of faint cries from myriads of small throats, and, as we landed, a glance upward showed the island 

 standing out iu bold, jagged relief against the sky, and surrounded by such inconceivable numbers 

 of flying birds that it could only be likened to a vast bee-hive, with the swarm of bees hovering 

 about it. The mazy flight of the birds had the effect several times of making me dizzy as I watched 

 them. Breeding there were several species of Auks and Guillemots. Our first visit was made 

 about the iniddle of July, and most of the birds, including the present species, had fresh eggs. 



The Least Anklet lays a single small white egg in a crevice on the cliff or under loose bowl- 

 ders. Mcasuiements are 1.C8 by 1.18 and l.CO by 1.12. Although the birds nesting on these 

 islands had eggs at the time of our visit, yet the millions flying about were nearly all in pairs, 

 which always kept close together and rarely joined with any others of their kind. Like the other 

 Auklets, they are not at all shy, and are snared by thousands by the Eskimo on these islands. 

 They sometimes wander into the Arctic to the north, and a single pair was seen about 30 miles 

 north of Cape Lisburne, well within the Arctic Circle. 



I do not think they breed north of the straits, except, perhaps, on some of the clifi's along the 

 , Siberian shore. They were common along the Siberian coast to the south of the straits, except 

 in the bays. 



On Saiut Lawrence and Saint Matthew's Islands they are abundant summer residents, and 

 wpon the Fur Seal Islands they are found in equal abundance. From Mr. Elliott's observations 

 we make the following notes concerning the habits of the species on these islands. They are 

 the most characteristic species breeding on this group. 



The first arrivals appear about the first of May in small flocks of a few hundreds or thousands. 

 They appear to be in a irolicsome spirit, and hover over the water, alighting now and then, and con- 

 tinually uttering a low chattering note. The first of June they are iu full force, and ]>repare to nest 

 by millions upon both islands. They frequent loose masses of bowlders and the cliffs upon both 

 islands, but are most numerous on Saiut George's, an area of over 5 square miles of basaltic shingle 

 on this island being a favorite resort. While walking over their breeding ground the notes and 

 noises made by tbe birds under foot are very amusing, and tbe birds pop in and out with an odd 

 manner and bewildering rapidity. 



Like tbe other Auklets, they go off to sea every day to feed upon small Crustacea. 



Tbe downy young is grayish black, and the first plumage darker than that of tbe adult. 



This species is abundant on the ifear Islands, where it breeds on Agatti'i, but does not wiiiter 

 there. Stejneger found them about the Commander Islands iu winter, but does not think they 

 breed there. 



Stnthliboramphl'S antiquus (Gmel.). Ancient Murrelet. 



During tbe explorations of the Telegraph Expedition this species was taken at Saiut George's 

 Island of tbe Fur Seal group iu the Aleutians, near the peninsula of Aliaska, and at Sitka. In the 

 summer of 1880, on June 9, Dr. Beau secured several specimens at Sitka. It breeds abundantly on 

 the Near Islands, where a few are resident. They breed also on the Commander Islands. On 

 June 2, 1872, Mr. Dall found these birds breeding abundantly at the Chica Islets, in Akoutan Pass, 

 near Unalaska. Tbe birds were caught sitting on their eggs in holes in the banks similar to those 

 used by the Fork-tailed Petrel. Two eggs were found in a nest. The same naturalist found this 

 species abundant tbe entire length of tbe Aleutian chain, and states that, although they congre- 

 gate in great flocks offshore, they frequent the bays and harbors much more than the other small 

 Auklets. 



