132 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS 



It was on December 1, 1882, that a specimen was brought me from Ladiginsk, 

 on Bering Island. It was in full winter plumage, entirely white beneath, with- 

 out knob, and with only a few traces of white feathers on the face. A few 

 days before the end of the year several birds came near the shore, where they 

 now could be seen to swim in small troops, or more frequently by twos and 

 threes, parallel to the coast about a hundred yards offshore, according to the 

 depth, usually in 3-fathom water, where they dived with great expertness for 

 amphipods, which at that time seemed to be their chief or only food. When 

 diving they lifted themselves up a little and went down with a quick jump. 

 We were having a severe spell of cold when they made their appearance, and 

 when it was over they disappeared again, none being seen after the 5th of 

 January. They evidently winter on the open ocean somewhere about the 

 islands. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Breeding range. Coasts and islands of Bering Sea. From the 

 Aleutian Islands north to the Diomede Islands. Also said to breed 

 on Kodiak Island. 



Winter range. North Pacific Ocean from the Aleutian and Com- 

 mander Islands southward to Japan and Washington (Puget Sound 

 rarely) . 



Spring migration. At the Pribilof Islands the first birds were 

 seen at sea March 26, but none came on land until April 25. In 

 Unimak Pass they were found in numbers May 1 . 



Fall migration. August 16 the birds began to leave the breeding 

 grounds in the Pribilof Islands and the last was seen August 28. 

 Stragglers have been taken in the vicinity so late as December 6. 

 The last was noted at Cape Iksurin, Siberia, September 26, and in 

 Akutan Pass, Aleutian Islands, October 6. 



Casual records. A single bird was taken, August 30, at Point 

 Barrow, by Mcllhenny; and Nelson saw two birds 30 miles north 

 of Cape Lisburne, August 15. One was found on a lake near Kotze- 

 bue Sound in January, 1886. 



Egg dates. Pribilof Islands: 5 records, June 8 to July 7; 3 rec- 

 ords, June 19 to 24. Diomede Islands: 3 records, June 12, July 18, 

 and August 26. 



Synthliboramphus antiquus (Gmelin) 

 ANCIENT MURRELET 



HABITS 



In the large deep-water bays of the Aleutian Islands, protected 

 from the furious storms of Bering Sea by towering cliffs and lofty 

 snow-laden mountains which rise abruptly from the shores, these 

 curious and dainty little sea birds find congenial summer homes on 



