18 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
20. Least Auklet. 
Simorhynchus pusillus (PALL.) COUES. 1862. 
Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from Sitka and Japan 
northward. (A. O. U. List.) The most abundant water-fowl in 
Behring Sea. Breeding in immense numbers on the Aleutian 
Islands. It laysa single white egg under loose boulders in a 
crevice on the cliff. (Ve/son.) Common along the whole chain of 
Aleutian Islands and as far east as Kadiak ; abundant on St. 
George Island in Behring Sea. ( Zzrner.) 
BREEDING Notes.—They breed in greatest numbers on about 
five miles square of basaltic shingle on St. George Island. They 
make no nest, but lay a single egg far down below amongst the 
loose rocks. The pure white egg is exceedingly variable in 
size and shape, usually oblong-oval with the smaller end pointed. 
(Elhott.) 
MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 
Our collection has three representatives of this species, all 
taken on St. Paul Island by Mr. J. M. Macoun. One was taken 
August 16th, 1891 ; and the other two August 15th, 1896. Four 
eggs are inthe collection, taken by Mr. J. M. Macoun on St. 
Paul Island in June, 1897. 
XI. SYNTHLIBORAMPHUS Branpt. 1837. 
21. Ancient Murrelet. Grey-headed Auk. 
Synthliboramphus antiquus (GMEL.) 1788. 
St.George Island, one of the Pribyloff group, and at Sitka; breeds 
abundantly on the Nearer Islands where a few are resident; also 
at the Chica Islets, in Akutan Pass, near Unalaska. (/Velson.) 
One specimen obtained at Atka Island, June 12th, 1879 ; breeds 
in holes made inthe turf in the northeast part of the island. 
(Turner.) Sitka Bay, Alaska. (Dr. Bean.) One specimen taken 
at Cape Beale, on the west coast of Vancouver Island in Novem- 
ber, 1888. (Fannin.) 
BREEDING Hapits.—I have a series of 20 eggs of this bird that 
were taken on Sannak Island, Alaska, on June 26th, 1894. Up 
to that time very few eggs of this bird had been taken. Mr. 
Littlejohn found the nests under bunches of rank, matted grass, 
the nests consisting of a slight excavation, and the eggs resting on 
