CRESTED AUKLET 123 



Food. The food of this species is very much the same as that of 

 other auklets, mainly crustaceans and other small sea animals. Doc- 

 tor Stejneger (1885) found the digestive organs of one "filled with 

 a semifluid violet-red matter, which 'he took' to be the remains of a 

 cephalopod." Mr. C. H. Townsend (1913) says: 



We found that a considerable part of the food of this and other kinds of 

 auklets consisted of amphipod crustaceans or "beach fleas," as they are called, 

 when found under bits of seaweed along shore. These small crustaceans, less 

 than a quarter of an inch in length, are amazingly abundant in Alaskan waters 

 and, as a never-failing food supply, account for the surprising abundance of 

 auklets of all kinds. 



Behavior. The flight of the crested auklet is more direct and 

 business like than that of the others. They usually fly in small, 

 dense flocks close to the water. They are active swimmers and can 

 rise easily from the surface. Like the rest of their tribe they are 

 expert at diving and probably obtain much of their food on or near 

 the bottom at moderate depths. In diving, the body is raised and 

 the plunge is made straight downward, but it is all done so quickly 

 that it is hard to see how it is accomplished. Mr. Palmer (1899) 

 speaks of their flight maneuvers as follows: 



Unlike the preceding species, they usually fly in small, compact flocks over 

 the land about their breeding places; and during the season this is a common 

 occurrence, especially near the village of St. George where, among the countless 

 thousands of the least auklet, small flocks of this dark-bodied and peculiarly- 

 crested species are conspicuous when they sweep in over the land. At such 

 times they fly over the arc of quite a large circle, returning again far out to 

 sea. They are very wary, but may be readily observed with care. Upon ap- 

 proaching a flock perched upon a rocky shelf they will instantly take flight. 

 One can then conceal himself as close to the place as possible, for the birds 

 will soon return, not, however, flying directly to the place, but almost parallel 

 with the shore line. If nothing unusual is noticed, upon their next return 

 they will perch upon the shelf, though a few may repeat the trip. In this way 

 I have made them repeat the journey several times simply by showing myself 

 a little. Some would perch and watch, while other species would gradually 

 gather around, and in their comical way wonder about the strange object 

 moving between the rocks. 



This species is much the noisiest of the auklets. While hunting 

 for their nests among the loose rocks on Walrus Island we frequently 

 heard a variety of loud, weird cries coming from the innermost re- 

 cesses of the rocks below us, which we concluded were traceable to 

 these birds. Mr. Palmer (1899) describes a similar experience as 

 follows: 



When disturbed they utter a honk-like sound impossible to describe on 

 paper; but it is when quarreling among the rocks that the climax is reached. 

 While stepping one day from rock to rock, under one of the cliffs, I was 

 startled by suddenly hearing the most unearthly sounds issuing from among 

 the rocks at my feet. I was soon satisfied that several foxes were quarreling 

 over some prey, but was rather taken aback when soon after several of these 

 birds emerged and flew off. 



