128 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS 



on the water and then made a sudden jump downward. The weather was not 

 stormy, but we had during that week a very cold spell. Later in January 

 they became scarce, but a few specimens were secured, the last one on January 

 30. They appeared again at their breeding places during the first days of May. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Breeding range. From the Commander Islands to Kamtschatka 

 and Japan. Occurrence in the Aleutian Islands probably rare or 

 local, as far east as Unalaska. 



Winter range. Presumably some winter on the North Pacific 

 south of their summer home, but many remain near their breeding 

 grounds throughout the year. 



Spring migration. Birds arrive at the nesting grounds early in 

 May. 



Fall migration. There is a specimen in the United States Na- 

 tional Museum from Akutan Island (eastern Aleutians) taken Sep- 

 tember 10, and Stejneger took birds on the Commander Islands up 

 to January 30. 



Casual records. Recorded by Schlegel from Sitka, but this record 

 is believed to be erroneous. 



Mthia pusilla (Pallas) 

 LEAST AUKLET 



HABITS 



I first met this diminutive sea bird, the smallest of the Alcidae, 

 in 1911 while passing through Unimak Pass, the main entrance into 

 Bering Sea, where a few small flocks were seen among the thou- 

 sands of puffins, murres, and other auklets scattered over the smooth 

 surface of the water. But it was not until we reached Kiska Island, 

 in the Aleutian chain, that I began to realize its abundance and 

 learn something of its habits. One smooth, foggy afternoon 

 Mr. R. H. Beck and I took a small skiff and rowed out of the harbor 

 to collect sea birds. Large flocks of harlequin ducks, scoters, and 

 Pacific eiders flew past us along the rocky shore; numerous pigeon 

 guillemots skimmed along the surface ahead of us, and several 

 pelagic cormorants flew out from the cliffs to meet us, circling about 

 our boat to satisfy their curiosity. But we left them all behind us 

 as the rocky shores faded out of sight in the fog, and we found our- 

 selves at sea among the auklets. Immense flocks of those curious 

 little birds surrounded us on all sides, countless thousands of them, 

 sitting in dense masses on the water, disappearing beneath the sur- 

 face as if by magic, and as suddenly reappearing or swirling about 

 us in great swarms, reminding us more of bees than of birds, as their 



