128 BULLETIN 107, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
chiefly consisted of gammarids. When diving they raised themselves a little 
on the water and then made a sudden jump downward ‘The weather was not 
stormy, but we had during that week a very cold spell. Later in January 
they became scarce, but a few specimens were secured, the last one on January: 
80. They appeared again at their breeding places during the first days of May. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
Breeding range-—From the Commander Islands to Kamtschatka 
and Japan. Occurrence in the Aleutian Islands probably rare or 
local, as far east as Unalaska. 
Winter range.—Presumably some winter on the North Pacific 
south of their summer home, but many remain near their breeding 
grounds throughout the year. 
Spring migration—Birds arrive at the nesting grounds early in 
May. 
Fall migration—There is a specimen in the United States Na- 
tional Museum from Akutan Island (eastern Aleutians) taken Sep- 
tember 10, and Stejneger took birds on the Commander Islands up 
to January 30. 
Casual records——Recorded by Schlegel from Sitka, but this record. 
is believed to be erroneous. 
4ETHIA PUSILLA (Pallas). 
LEAST AUKLET. 
HABITS. 
I first met this diminutive sea bird, the smallest of the Alcidae, 
in 1911 while passing through Unimak Pass, the main entrance into 
Bering Sea, where a few small flocks were seen among the thou- 
sands of puffins, murres, and other auklets scattered over the smooth 
surface of the water. But it was not until we reached Kiska Island, 
in the Aleutian chain, that I began to realize its abundance and 
learn something of its habits. One smooth, foggy afternoon 
Mr. R. H. Beck and I took a small skiff and rowed out of the harbor 
to collect sea birds. Large flocks of harlequin ducks, scoters, and 
Pacific eiders flew past us along the rocky shore; numerous pigeon 
guillemots skimmed along the surface ahead of us, and several 
pelagic cormorants flew out from the cliffs to meet us, circling about 
our boat to satisfy their curiosity. But we left them all behind us 
as the rocky shores faded out of sight in the fog, and we found our- 
selves at sea among the auklets. Immense flocks of those curious. 
little birds surrounded us on all sides, countless thousands of them, 
sitting in dense masses on the water, disappearing beneath the sur- 
face as if by magic, and as suddenly reappearing or swirling about 
us in great swarms, reminding us more of bees than of birds, as their 
