LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS. 125 
4ETHIA PYGMZA (Gmelin). 
WHISKERED AUKLET. 
HABITS. 
This was one of the few birds of the Aleutian Islands which we 
failed to secure on our expedition to this interesting region in 1911. 
We had it constantly in mind and looked for it among all the is- 
lands we visited throughout the whole length of the chain, but we 
did not even see a specimen to recognize it. It is said to breed about 
the base of Korovinski Volcano on Atkha Island. I made an un- 
successful attempt to reach this mountain on foot, but lost my way 
among the snow banks and fogs of the rugged peaks. We passed 
near it in the ship, but the beautiful, snow-capped cone was barely 
visible in the thick, drifting fog which concealed the coast and we 
were unable to land. Perhaps it is not strange that we overlooked 
it, for Doctor Stejneger (1885) says: 
Notwithstanding the fact that the birds are rather common, it must be con- 
sidered good luck to meet them and get opportunity of observing them, for 
they are rather shy and live quite retired in their deep holes. 
Nesting.—We are indebted to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger (1885) for 
nearly all we know about the life history of this curious and obscure 
species, the rarest and the least known of the auklets. He says of 
its breeding habits: 
This little auk, certainly the prettiest species of the whole family, has- ap- 
parently the center of its distribution on the islands visited by me. On Bering 
Island it is rather rare, however, though it breeds in the crevices of the outlying 
islet Arij Kamen, in a precipice near the fishing place Saranna, and probably 
in several places on the southern part of the island, for instance, at Kikij Mys. 
Copper Island, with its steep rocky shores, is the favorite home of this bird, 
however. It may be found breeding all around the coast where suitable holes 
and crevices occur. I know of nesting places near the main village, at Kara- 
belnij, and on Tschornij Mys. At the latter place it occupied holes in the 
pasaltic cliff alongside those of Oceanodroma furcata, the latter inhabiting 
the deeper ones. It could be told at once by the peculiar smell emanating from 
the caverns of the latter bird, which species was to be found inside. 
They are early breeders, in that respect being considerably ahead of their 
allies, for instance, Lunda cirrhata, so early in fact, that no eggs could be pro- 
cured in the latter part of June, when I had the opportunity to go in search of 
them. The nests at that time already contained young ones. These remain 
in the nest until full fledged. A specimen having left the nest only a few 
days previous, was taken alive on board the steamer when at anchor at Glinka, 
Copper Island, July 18. This bird was found early in the morning, concealed 
in a fold of one of the sails, the inexperienced youth having probably mistaken 
it for the crevice of a rock. This would indicate that they pass the nights in 
holes as long as they stay near land. 
Eggs.—The only eggs of this species that I have ever seen or 
heard of are two in the collection of Mr. Charles E. Doe, of Provi- 
