LIFE HISTORIES CF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS. 109 
with her. The Indians take advantage of this habit to catch the birds, which 
they account good eating. Having first selected a populous neighborhood, they 
thrust grass into a set of contiguous burrows, pressing it in to arm’s length 
for the purpose of detaining the returning bird later in the evening. At 9 
o’clock or such a matter they post themselves in the gathering gloom to watch 
their traps, secreting themselves, if need be, in the bushes. The colony is 
silent now, but presently there is a sudden whirr of wings, a dark object 
strikes the bank and disappears. Instantly the watchful native closes the 
entrance of the burrow and seizes the confused auklet from behind. It is 
ereepy business, and not less so now that the whole scene is lighted up by 
the accusingly benignant eye of the lighthouse. However, one may be pardoned 
a strictly psychological study, even in the robbing of a henroost. 
Wénter.—As soon as the breeding season is over the hosts of auk- 
jets leave their underground burrows, their mysterious nocturnal 
visits cease, and they scatter out over the ocean, where they spend 
the winter in the pursuit of happiness and the search for food. They 
are widely scattered at this season and seem to prefer a solitary 
existence. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
Breeding range.—Coasts and islands of the North Pacific. From 
Washington (Destruction Island) north to southern Alaska (For- 
rester Island, St. Lazaria Island, and Egg Island, 200 miles west of 
Fort Wrangell) and west to the Aleutian Islands (Atka, Agattu, 
and Umnak Islands), the Kurile Islands and northern Japan (Yezo). 
Said to have formerly bred on the Farallones. 
Winter range—The open sea from Washington (Pacific coast, 
rare in Puget Sound) south to California (Farallones to San Diego) 
and rarely Lower California (San Geronimo Island and Cerros 
Island). In Asia winters south to southern Japan. 
Spring migration —Northward in April and May. Birds remain 
along the coast of California until early May (latest June 2), but 
the first arrivals on the breeding grounds at Destruction Island, 
Washington, are often seen during April. Specimens were noted in 
southeastern Alaska (Kuiu Island) May 18. 
Fall migration—Takes place in September and October. Birds 
have been noted at Point Pinos, California, September 27, and com- 
mon by October 14. A bird, evidently a migrant, was taken on 
Puget Sound (Tacoma) September 21, and specimens were taken 
at Departure Bay, British Columbia, from September 23 to No- 
vember 2. 
Egg dates—Southern Alaska: 22 records, May 10 to June 22; 
11 records, June 9 to 20. Washington: 10 records, April 21 to June 
18; 5 records, April 24 to June 18. 
