°iSqs^n Bendire, Notes oil the Ancient Murrelet. 27 I 



visiting the coasts of the mainland and the numerous ishxnds for 

 the purpose of reproduction. 



Mr. Littlejohn says: " We were about 180 miles east by south 

 from Unga (a small island south of Sand Point on the Alaska 

 Peninsula, in about latitude 55°, longitude 160°), when this hardy 

 bird was first seen. They were usually in twos and threes and 

 scattered among large flocks of Crested Auklets {Shnorhynchiis 

 cristatelhis). One would think at first that they were amusing 

 themselves by flying a short distance ahead of the ship, dropping 

 into the water and swimming in, so as to be near the bow as the 

 vessel passed, thus diving beneath the hull and coming up again 

 just under the stern. After they had dropped astern a few hun- 

 dred feet, they took wing and repeated this manoeuvre with 

 unvarying precision throughout the entire day. By close watch- 

 ing I found that it was not for pleasure they did this, but that 

 they were feeding on small invertebrates, such as are found on 

 ships' bottoms. At such times they are very unwary and can be 

 easily taken with a dip net alongside of the vessel, as can also 

 the Crested Auklet, the latter on the wing, while flying in circles 

 about the vessel. From the time the first were seen until land 

 was sighted there were always some about, but as we neared the 

 land or got on soundings, they became more plentiful and did 

 not follow the ship any farther, owing most likely to food be- 

 coming more abundant. ^ 



' " In order to make this statement a little clearer I will try to e.xplain it 

 according to my theory on this subject. During the severe and stormy 

 weather found here during winter and early spring, most of these birds do 

 not remain near land, but probably go far out 10 sea. I believe this to be 

 the case from having seen them in such localities both in the fall and spring, 

 where the weather is influenced by the Japanese current ; here also in the 

 warmer water food would be more readily found. They remain about here 

 until the severe weather is over and then gradually make their way towards 

 land, following probably the main food supply. All the birds I caught were 

 very poor in flesh and being the laggards of the flock, had remained too long 

 behind, until after food had become too scarce to supply them where a short 

 time before there was sufficient. Numerous invertebrates always gather 

 about a vessel's bottom and the birds finding them more al^undant there than 

 elsewhere, follow in order to feed upon them, and upon reaching shoaler 

 water they apparently come up once more with their main food supply and 

 therefore give up the chase." 



