32 University of California Publications in Zoology. [Vol. 7 



Synthliboramplius antiquus (Gmelin). Ancient Murrelet. 



Quite common in a few places on the west side of the islands. 

 Large, scattered flocks were encountered feeding in the tide 

 rips in Warren Channel (between Warren and Kosciusko 

 islands) on May 19 and 23; many were seen in various bays on 

 the northwest coast of Dall Island, May 30 to June 4, as well 

 as in the open sea all along the west coast of Dall Island. On 

 June 6 we passed through numerous flocks at the northern 

 extremity of Dall Island, where they were feeding in the swift- 

 running water of the extremely narrow channel at that point; 

 also at Cordova Bay, at the southern extremity of Prince of 

 Wales Island. On June 7, while crossing Clarence Straits 

 between Prince of Wales and Duke islands, more were observed 

 than at any other place, but as soon as the sheltered waters 

 about the latter island were reached they were no longer to be 

 seen. The preference evinced for the open sea was very 

 marked, and not a single individual was seen at any time in 

 the sheltered waters of the inner passages. 



On June 7, while we were passing through numerous large 

 flocks, the sea was unusually clear and smooth, and by standing 

 in the bow of the launch, I had frequent opportunity to observe 

 how the murrelets used their wings under the water. When 

 diving they make a sudden flirt of the wings that can be 

 seen at quite a distance, but it was not until several individuals 

 had passed close under the Jjoat that I could see, as was plainly 

 apparent, that they used their wings continually. They were 

 literally flying under the water, but the manus was held about 

 parallel with the body, and not outstretched, as when going 

 through the air. 



Though we were quite unable to discover where the nesting 

 grounds were located, this bird was evidently breeding some- 

 where in the vicinity of Dall and Prince of Wales islands; for 

 most of the females secured had laid their sets, as was apparent 

 from the condition of the oviduct, while these females and also 

 the single male secured, had each two denuded spots on the 

 abdomen, the size and shape of an egg, evidently for the recep- 

 tion of the two eggs during incubation. 



