CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. I9 



nesting on cliffs among loose stones, only one egg to each bird. 

 (Nelson.) Only observed on two occasions at St. Michael ; in 

 considerable numbers at Bristol bay, Alaska ; and among the 

 Aleutian islands extremely abundant. (Turner.) Found in num- 

 bers on the Pribilof islands. (/. M. Macoun.) 



Breeding Habits. — This bird makes its appearance early in 

 May and repairs to chinks and holes in the rocky cliffs, or deep 

 down below rough basaltic shingle or a large boulder, to deposit 

 its e.gg, upon the bare earth or rock. Its egg is pure white and 

 rather rough with frequent discolorations. {Elliott.) 



19. Whiskered Auklet. 



Simorhynchus pygmcBus (Gmel.) Brandt. 1869. 



Coasts and islands of the North Pacific from Unalaska through 

 the Aleutian chain to Kamchatka. {A. 0. U. List.) Breeds 

 abundantly on the Nearer and Commander islands. {Nelson.) 

 Breeding on Atka island, 1879. {Turner.) 



20. Least Auklet 



Simorhynchus pusillus (Pall.) Coues. 1862. 



Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from Sitka and Japan 

 northward. {A. 0. U. List.) The most abundant water-fowl in 

 Bering sea. Breeding in immense numbers on the Aleutian 

 islands. It lays a single white egg under loose boulders in a 

 crevice on the cliff. {Nelson.) Common along the whole chain 

 of Aleutian islands and as far east as Kadiak ; abundant on St. 

 George island in Bering sea. {Turner.) One specimen taken 

 at Point Barrow, Alaska. {Mcllhenny.) 



Breeding Notes. — They breed in greatest numbers on about 

 five miles square of basaltic shingle on St. George island. They 

 make no nest, but lay a single egg far down below amongst the 

 loose rocks. The pure white egg is exceedingly variable in size 

 and shape, usually oblong-oval with the smaller end pointed. 

 {Elliott.) A very full description of this bird and its habits is 

 given by Palmer in his " Birds of the Pribilof Islands." 

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