216 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS 



Arctic explorer that loves those inhospitable shores. It penetrates as 

 far north as 82 and has been found breeding up to the seventy- 

 eighth parallel of latitude, probably farther north than any other 

 species regularly breeds. 



Spring. Mr. William Eagle Clarke (1898), writing of the migra- 

 tion of this species on Franz Josef Land, says : 



It arrived at Frederick Jackson Island in 1896 on the 25th of February, as 

 related by Doctor Nansen. On the 10th of March Doctor Nansen mentions that 

 "millions" were seen flying up the sound at 6 a. m., and "when we went out 

 at 2 in the afternoon there was an unceasing passage of flock after flock out to 

 sea, and this continued until late in the afternoon." On the 17th of March they 

 were in plenty at the Gully Rocks, and, as far as could be seen they were all 

 in full summer plumage. They continually occupied and deserted their breed- 

 ing-cliffs during April, May, and early June. After the 10th of June the little 

 auks were seen on the rocks every day during our stay. They bred in the 

 cliffs, at both east and west ends, at Cape Flora in great numbers, though most 

 plentifully in the Gully Rocks. 



The approach of the Arctic spring and the arrival of the birds is 

 well portrayed by Dr. 1. 1. Hayes (1867) as follows: 



The snow had mainly disappeared from the valley, and, although no flowers 

 had yet appeared, the early vegetation was covering the banks with green, and 

 the feeble growths opened their little leaves almost under the very snow, and 

 stood alive and fresh in the frozen turf, looking as glad of the spring as their 

 more ambitious cousins of the warm south. Gushing rivulets and fantastic 

 waterfalls mingled their pleasant music with the ceaseless hum of birds, myriads 

 of which sat upon the rocks of the hillside, or were perched upon the cliffs, or 

 sailed through the air in swarms so thick that they seemed like a cloud passing 

 before the sun. These birds were the hitherto mentioned little auk, and are a 

 waterfowl not larger than a quail. The swift flutter of their wings and their 

 constant cry filled the air with a roar like that of a storm advancing among 

 the forest trees. The valley was glowing with the sunlight of the early morning, 

 which streamed in over the glacier, and robed hill, mountain, and plain in 

 brightness. 



Nearly all Arctic explorers have referred to the astonishing abun- 

 dance of the little "rotche," as this species is called, on its breeding 

 grounds. The following two quotations by Morris (1903) will serve 

 as illustrations: 



Captain Beechey says: 



They are so numerous that we have often seen an uninterrupted line of them 

 extending full halfway over the bay, or to a distance of more than 3 miles. 

 This column, on the average, might have been about 6 yards broad and as many 

 deep. There must have been nearly four millions of birds on the wing at one 

 time. 



Meyer writes: 



The incredible numbers of this species that have been seen by voyagers, on 

 the surface of the northern seas, are very remarkable; it is said that they cover 

 the surface of the water, and the floating masses of ice as far as the eye can 

 discern, and when they take flight they actually darken the sky. 



