LIFE HISTORIES OF NOKTH AMEEICAN DIVING BIRDS. 103 



the body and head are held in compact form and the feet are carried 

 straight backward to help in steering. They swim buoyantly and 

 are expert divers. In diving the body is often raised clear of the 

 water, and a curving downward plunge is made. Under water they 

 use both wings and feet, flying rapidly through the water in pursuit 

 of their finny prey. 



Horned puffins are sometimes quite noisy when quarreling in their 

 burrows, but at other times they are usually silent except for a 

 variety of low growling or grunting sounds, frequently heard on 

 their breeding grounds, which are probably love notes or friendly 

 communications. 



Winter. — During the latter part of September, or as soon as the 

 young birds are able to fly, they leave their breeding grounds in 

 northern Bering Sea for their winter quarters. Many winter in 

 the open waters about the Aleutian Islands and farther south along 

 the Alaskan coast ; many probably spend the winter wandering over 

 the open ocean. Probably the birds which breed south of the Alaska 

 Peninsular do not migrate far from their summer haunts. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — Coasts and Islands of the North Pacific, Behring 

 Sea, and the Arctic Ocean. From southern Alaska (Forrester Island, 

 St. Lazaria Island, and Prince William Sound) west throughout the 

 Aleutian Islands. North along the Alaskan coast (St. Michael, 

 Kotzebue Sound, and Cape Lisburne), and on the Pribilof Islands, 

 St. Matthew, St. Lawrence, and the Diomede Islands. Also from the 

 Commander Islands north along the Siberian coast to Bering Strait 

 (East Cape) and Koliutschin Island. As Nelson saw a bird at Her- 

 ald Island, it may breed there also. Probably breeds in the Kurile 

 Islands. 



Winter range. — Southern Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. 

 From the Aleutian and Commander Islands south along the Alaskan 

 coast to the Queen Charlotte Islands, and along the Asiatic coast to 

 the Kurile Islands. Taken once in California (Pacific Grove, Mon- 

 terey County). 



Spring migration. — ^Taken at Nushagak, Alaska, May 9. They ar- 

 rive at the Pribilof Islands, May 10 ; at St. Michael, June 10 to 20 ; 

 and at Chamisso Island, Kotzebue Sound, June 25. 



Fall migration. — ^Taken at St. Matthew Island, September 22. 

 They depart from their breeding grounds near St. Michael, Septem- 

 ber 20, and at the Pribilof Islands, September 10; but individuals 

 probably remain on the open sea at no great distance much later. 

 ■ Egg dates. — Alaska, north of peninsula: 24 records, June 24 to 

 September 1 ; 12 records, June 27 to July 9. Alaska, south of penin- 

 sula : 13 records, June 6 to July 11 ; 7 records, June 17 to July 5. 



