WHISKERED AUKLET 125 



JEthia pygmcea (Gmelin) 

 WHISKERED AUKLET 



HABITS 



This was one of the few birds of the Aleutian Islands which we 

 failed to secure on our expedition to this interesting region in 1911. 

 We had it constantly in mind and looked for it among all the is- 

 lands we visited throughout the whole length of the chain, but we 

 did not even see a specimen to recognize it. It is said to breed about 

 the base of Korovinski Volcano on Atkha Island. I made an un- 

 successful attempt to reach this mountain on foot, but lost my way 

 among the snow banks and fogs of the rugged peaks. We passed 

 near it in the ship, but the beautiful, snow-capped cone was barely 

 visible in the thick, drifting fog which concealed the coast and we 

 were unable to land. Perhaps it is not strange that we overlooked 

 it, for Doctor Stejneger (1885) says: 



Notwithstanding the fact that the birds are rather common, it must be con- 

 sidered good luck to meet them and get opportunity of observing them, for 

 they are rather shy and live quite retired in their deep holes. 



Nesting. We are indebted to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger (1885) for 

 nearly all we know about the life history of this curious and obscure 

 species, the rarest and the least known of the auklets. He says of 

 its breeding habits: 



This little auk, certainly the prettiest species of the whole family, has ap- 

 parently the center of its distribution on the islands visited by me. On Bering 

 Island it is rather rare, however, though it breeds in the crevices of the outlying 

 islet Arij Kamen, in a precipice near the fishing place Saranna, and probably 

 in several places on the southern part of the island, for instance, at Kikij Mys. 

 Copper Island, with its steep rocky shores, is the favorite home of this bird, 

 however. It may be found breeding all around the coast where suitable holes 

 and crevices occur. I know of nesting places near the main village, at Kara- 

 belnij, and on Tschornij Mys. At the latter place it occupied holes in the 

 basaltic cliff alongside those of Oceanodroma jurcata, the latter inhabiting 

 the deeper ones. It could be told at once by the peculiar smell emanating from 

 the caverns of the latter bird, which species was to be found inside. 



They are early breeders, in that respect being considerably ahead of their 

 allies, for instance, Lunda cirrhata, so early in fact, that no eggs could be pro- 

 cured in the latter part of June, when I had the opportunity to go in search of 

 them. The nests at that time already contained young ones. These remain 

 in the nest until full fledged. A specimen having left the nest only a few 

 days previous, was taken alive on board the steamer when at anchor at Glinka, 

 Copper Island, July 18. This bird was found early in the morning, concealed 

 in a fold of one of the sails, the inexperienced youth having probably mistaken 

 it for the crevice of a rock. This would indicate that they pass the nights in 

 holes as long as they stay near land. 



Eggs. The only eggs of this species that I have ever seen or 

 heard of are two in the collection of Mr. Charles E. Doe, of Provi-. 



