The Crested Auklet 135 



than a quarter of an inch in length, are amazingly abundant in Alaskan waters 

 and, as a never-failing food-supply, account for the surprising abundance of 

 Auklets of all kinds. 



The native Aleuts eat Auklets, just as they do most other kinds of sea- 

 birds, and capture them with nets, which are like a large dip-net with a 

 long handle. The native hunter conceals himself at some point near the 

 beach or bluffs over which the birds are accustomed to fly close. When a 

 flock approaches, the net is swung upward, and a skilful native has little 

 difficulty in catching two or three birds out of each flock that passes. The 

 Aleut people are true children of Nature, and the greater part of their food 

 consists of the fishes, seals, and sea-birds found along their shores. The misty 

 and often stormy shores would be desolate indeed without the lively presence 

 of Auklets; and we cannot help wishing that they abounded in more southern 

 latitudes, where their charming ways could be better known. Some of Nature's 

 finest exhibitions of bird-life, however, are arranged without reference to 

 civilized spectators. 



The Crested Auklets arrive at the Pribilofs in May, and remain until the 

 winter ice begins to invest the islands, when they go farther south. They are 

 noisy in the breeding season when about their nests, but are rather silent 

 at other times. 



While they take alarm and leave the cliffs when closely approached, they 

 have more confidence when on the water, and do not readily dive or take 

 flight except to make way for the boat. About islands where they are not 

 specially abundant they may yet be as thick as bees about some particular 

 cliff, long rows of them lined up on the rock ledges, while others are coming 

 and going. Sometimes we saw them far off shore in large flocks hundreds of 

 yards in extent. They are a plump, well-fed race, and appear to have plenty 

 of time for play, both in the air and on the water. 



The Auklets, or Pygmy Auks, a group of six species (referred to four genera) 

 are confined to the North Pacific. 



The Crested Auklet is a very distinct species, distinguished by its much 

 larger size from its nearest relatives, the Whiskered and Least Auklets, and by 

 the differently shaped bill and the presence of a recurved crest from the Paro- 

 quet Auklet. Moreover, the underparts are entirely dark in the Crested Auklet, 

 but largely white in the three allied species. 



Males and females are alike in plumage, which is sooty black above, and 

 brownish beneath; but this obscure coloring is relieved by the lively crest, 

 the bright red of the beak, and the white, plume-like feathers which extend 

 downward and backward from the eye. The white iris also contributes to 

 the alert appearance of the bird's head. The feet are bluish, with dark webs. 

 That portion of the red beak around the corner of the mouth is soft and 

 flexible. 



The forward-curved crest of the Auklet, resembling that of the California 



