BIEDS. 43 



Like the Paroquet and Crested Auklets, this species has a great preference for the deep western 

 half of Bering Sea, except along the Aleutian chain. During the summer of 1881 we found them 

 breeding upon the islands in Bering Straits in great abundance, especially about the Diomedes 

 and King or Olcewulc Island. As we lay at anchor close under the Big Diomede the cliffs arose 

 almost sheer for hundreds of feet. Gazing up toward one of these banks we could see the air 

 filled with minute black specks, which seemed to be floating by in an endless stream. The roar 

 from the rush of waves against the base of the cliffs was deadened by the strange humming chorus 

 of faint cries from myriads of small throats, and, as we landed, a glance upward showed the island 

 standing out in bold, jagged relief against the sky, and surrounded by such inconceivable numbers 

 of flying birds that it could only be likened to a vast bee-hive, with the swarm of bees hovering 

 about it. The mazy flight of the birds had the effect several times of making me dizzy as I watched 

 them. Breeding thBre were several species of Auks and Guillemots. Our first visit was made 

 about the middle of July, and most of the birds, including the present species, had fresh eggs. 



The Least Auklet lays a single small white egg in a crevice on the cliff' or under loose bowl- 

 ders. Measurements are 1.68 by 1.18 and 1.60 by 1.12. Although the birds nesting on these 

 islands had eggs at the time of our visit, yet the millions flying about were nearly all in pairs, 

 which always kept close together and rarely joined with any others of their kind. Like the other 

 Auklets, they are not at all shy, and are snared by thousands by the Eskimo on these islands. 

 They sometimes wander into the Arctic to the north, and a single pair was seen about 30 miles 

 north of Cape Lisburne, well within the Arctic Circle. 



I do not think they breed north of the straits, except, perhaps, on some of the cliff's along the 

 Siberian shore. They were common along the Siberian coast to the south of the straits, except 

 in the bays. 



On Saint Lawrence and Saint Matthew's Islands they are abundant summer residents, and 

 upon the Fur Seal Islands they are found in equal abundance. From Mr. Elliott's observations 

 we make the following notes concerning the habits of the species on these islands. They are 

 the most characteristic species breeding on this group. 



The first arrivals appear about the first of May in small flocks of a few hundreds or thousands. 

 They appear to be in a frolicsome spirit, and hover over the water, alighting now and then, and con- 

 tinually uttering a low chattering note. The first of June they are in full force, and prepare to nest 

 by millions upon both islands. They frequent loose masses of bowlders and the cliffs upon both 

 islands, but are most numerous on Saint George's, an area of over 5 square miles of basaltic shingle 

 on this;island being a favorite resort. While walking over their breeding ground the notes and 

 noises made by the birds under foot are very amusing, and the birds pop in and out with an odd 

 manner and bewildering rapidity. 



Like the other Auklets, they go off' to sea every day to feed upon small Crustacea. 



The downy young is grayish black, and the first plumage darker than that of the adult. 



This species is abundant on the iN'ear Islands, where it breeds on Agattu, but does not winter 

 there. Stejneger found them about the Commander Islands in winter, but does not think they 

 breed there. 



Synthliboeamphus antiquus (Gmel.). Ancient Murrelet. 



During the explorations of the Telegraph Expedition this species was taken at Saint George's 

 Island of the Fur Seal group in the Aleutians, near the peninsula of Aliaska, and at Sitka. In the 

 summer of 1880, on June 9, Dr. Bean secured several specimens at Sitka. It breeds abundantly on 

 the Near Islands, where a few are resident. They breed also on the Commander Islands. On 

 June 2, 1872, Mr. Dall found these birds breeding abundantly at the Chica Islets, in Akoutan Pass, 

 near Unalaska. The birds were caught sitting on their eggs in holes in the banks similar to those 

 used by the Fork-tailed Petrel. Two eggs were found in a nest. The same naturalist found this 

 species abundant the entire length of the Aleutian chain, and states that, although they congre- 

 gate in great flocks off'shore, they frequent the bays and harbors much more than the other small 

 Auklets. 



