THE LEAST AUKLET. 917 



deciduous at the end of the hreeihng season. \\ liile our estlietic sense may not 

 exactly approve of the mandibular extravagances which birds of this group 

 indulge at the approach of spring, we should remember the grotesque ear-rings 

 and lip-ornaments which have pleased the fancy of our own species at times, 

 and we will not be in haste to criticize the bizarre tastes of these little savages 

 of the sea. Nature ma}' be amusing if she likes. Why not? 



Birds of this and allied species exist in Bering Sea by countless millions, 

 and they form a not unimportant element of Eskimo fare. Hungry whalers 

 also sample them on occasion, but their flesh is not seductive to the Caucasian 

 palate. The Paroquets nest in the abundant crevices of the rough volcanic 

 islands, placing their single white egg upon the bare rock or soil. The males 

 spend most of the dav at sea fishing, but return late in the afternoon to feed 

 their mates. After this and until four or five o'clock in the morning they may 

 be seen dozing at the entrance of their nests. "They have a low, sonorous, 

 vibrating whistle and do not fly in flocks like most other Auks." 



No. 368. 



LEAST AUKLET. 



A. O. U. No. 20. /Ethia pusilla (I'all.). 



Synonym. — Knob-nosku Ai'ki.kt. 



Description. — Adults in siiiniiirr: "Bill small and simple, but stout for its 

 length, scarcely higher than wide at base, rather obtuse at tip. A small deciduous 

 knob or tubercle at base of culmen. No crest : but front, top, and sides of head 

 more or less thickly lined with delicate white thready feathers : a similar scries, 

 exceedingly fine, from eye along side of hind head and nape. Excepting these 

 filaments and more or less white on scapulars and tips of some secondaries, entire 

 upper parts glossy black : region about under mandible, and a few feathers along 

 sides of body and flanks, blackish ; throat white ; under parts white, more or less 

 extensively mottled or clouded with blackish, often uninterrupted on fore breast. 

 Lining of wings white, with dark feathers along the edge. Iris white. Bill red ; 

 knob and base of upper mandible dark. Legs (dry) dark ; front of tarsus and tops 

 of toes lighter. /;( zvintcr: No knob; bill brownish; little white bristles of head 

 retained but less developed ; white of under parts extensive, reaching far around 

 sides of neck. Young: Like winter aflults, but with smaller bill and lacking white 

 bristles of head and with more white on scapulars" (Cones). Length of adult: 

 6.50 (165.1); wing 3.75 (95.3): tail 1.25 (31.8); bill (chord of culmen) .40 

 (10.2) ; height of bill at base .30 (7.6) ; tarsus .70 (17.8). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparro7v sice: the smallest of the Alcidw. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in Washington. Single egg deposited in crevice of 

 rock in sea-wall or volcanic cliff. Av. size, 1.55x1.12 (39.4x28.5). 



