LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS. 123 
Food.—The food of this species is very much the same as that of 
other auklets, mainly crustaceans and other small sea animals. Doc- 
tor Stejneger (1885) found the digestive organs of one “ filled with 
a semifluid violet-red matter, which ‘he took’ to be the remains of a 
cephalopod.” Mr. C. H. Townsend (1913) says: 
We found that a considerable part of the food of this and other kinds of 
auklets consisted of amphipod crustaceans or “ beach fleas,’ as they are called, 
when found under bits of seaweed along shore. These small crustaceans, less 
than a quarter of an inch in length, are amazingly abundant in Alaskan waters 
and, as a never-failing food supply, account for the surprising abundance of 
auklets of all kinds. 
Behavior.—The flight of the crested auklet is more direct and 
business like than that of the others. They usually fly in small, 
dense flocks close to the water. They are active swimmers and can 
rise easily from the surface. Like the rest of their tribe they are 
expert at diving and probably obtain much of their food on or near 
the bottom at moderate depths. In diving, the body is raised and 
the plunge is made straight downward, but it is all done so quickly 
that it is hard to see how it is accomplished. Mr. Palmer (1899) 
speaks of their flight maneuvers as follows: 
Unlike the preceding species, they usually fly in small, compact flocks over 
the land about their breeding places; and during the season this is a common 
occurrence, especially near the village of St. George where, among the countless 
thousands of the least auklet, small flocks of this dark-bodied and peculiarly- 
crested species are conspicuous when they sweep in over the land. At such 
times they fly over the are of quite a large circle, returning again far out to 
sea. They are very wary, but may be readily observed with care. Upon ap- 
proaching a flock perched upon a rocky shelf they will instantly take flight. 
One can then conceal himself as close to the place as possible, for the birds 
will soon return, not, however, flying directly to the place, but almost parallel 
with the shore line. If nothing unusual is noticed, upon their next return 
they will perch upon the shelf, though a few may repeat the trip. In this way 
I have made them repeat the journey several times simply by showing myself 
a little. Some would perch and watch, while other species would gradually 
gather around, and in their comical way wonder about the strange object 
moving between the rocks. 
This species is much the noisiest of the auklets. While hunting 
for their nests among the loose rocks on Walrus Island we frequently 
heard a variety of loud, weird cries coming from the innermost re- 
cesses of the rocks below us, which we concluded were traceable to 
these birds. Mr. Palmer (1899) describes a similar experience as 
follows: 
When disturbed they utter a honk-like sound—impossible to describe on 
paper; but it is when quarreling among the rocks that the climax is reached. 
While stepping one day from rock to rock, under one of the cliffs, I was 
startled by suddenly hearing the most unearthly sounds issuing from among 
the rocks at my feet. I was soon satisfied that several foxes were quarreling 
over some prey, but was rather taken aback when soon after several of these 
birds emerged and flew off. 
