NO. 2 BIRDS OF ALASKA AND SIBERIA — HERSEY 9 



The breeding season in these large colonies is greatly prolonged. 

 At the date of our visit to Chamisso Island (August 2) many birds 

 still had eggs only slightly incubated, while a larger number were 

 bringing food to their young. On July 16 I found that most of the 

 eggs in the colony at St. Michael were hatched, and the young could 

 be heard in the crevices among the rocks, although they were beyond 

 reach. At the colony at East Cape the young were still in the nests 

 as late as August 29. In fact, no young were seen either on the 

 wing or in the water up to the time I left the region (September 12), 

 and none of the adults showed any indications of moult either of 

 bill or plumage. 



PHALERIS PSITTACULA 



Paroquet Auklet 



^THIA CRISTATELLA 



Crested Auklet 



JETHIA PUSILLA 

 Least Auklet 



Myriads of these interesting little birds were met with about all 

 the larger islands of Bering Sea, but as very little work was done 

 on the islands, I did not visit their breeding places. On St. Lawrence 

 Island the natives catch numbers of them in nets. At the time of my 

 visit nearly every family had a dozen or more. I picked out a number 

 of the best birds, thus securing a good series of Crested and Least, 

 but only found one Paroquet. It may be that this latter species is 

 less plentiful here. 



I was told that these birds were used regularly for food and were 

 considered very nice and that their skins were used for clothing. 

 Eighty-five skins of the Crested Auklet were said be to used in 

 making a " parka " and a larger number of the Least are needed. 



Auklets were plentiful about East Cape and the Diomede Islands, 

 but were not seen north of Bering Strait. 



SYNTHLIBORAMPHUS ANTIQUUS 

 Ancient Murrelet 



This species was met with only at Ketchikan where a specimen 

 was secured. A number were seen. 



