138 BULLETIN 107, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
retains the black throat, more or less mixed with white; it also 
generally has some of the white plumes on the head, neck, or shoul- 
ders, which are sometimes quite conspicuous, but not so highly 
developed as in the spring; these are entirely absent in the young 
bird. These adornments are probably most highly developed in the. 
oldest birds. The name “old man” and the Russian name “ Starik,” 
which means old man, as well as the scientific names antiquus and 
senicula, are’ supposed to have been derived from the fancied resem- 
blance of these white plumes to the snowy locks of old age. 
Food.—The food of the ancient murrelet consists of various kinds 
of small marine invertebrates, which it obtains mainly by diving, 
although much of its food must be obtained on or near the surface, 
for it spends much of its lifetime on the open ocean, where the 
water is from one to two thousand fathoms deep. Most of the 
murrelets and auklets have similar feeding habits and probably find 
an abundant supply of small invertebrates swimming a few feet or 
perhaps a few fathoms below the surface of the warm water of the 
North,Pacific. Mr. Littlejohn gives the following account of its 
peculianfeeding habits while following a vessel: 
We! wéte HBbtt 180 miles east by south from Unga (a small island south of 
eats eee the Alaska Peninsula, in about latitude 55°, longitude 160°) 
Vheh this haraybird was first seen. They were usually in twos and threes and 
Scattered “athollz idrvé" flocks of crested auklets (Simorhynchus cristatellus). 
One would think at first they were amusing themselves by flying a short dis- 
tained ahead of the ship, fropping into the water and swimming in, so as to be 
near the, how {aS>the, vessel, passed, thus diving beneath the hull and coming up 
ain just;under, the stern. After they had dropped astern a few hundred feet 
yu eit deat aida "thse maneuver with unvarying precision through- 
Sut CHE entite! aay. (ip oO Atching I found that it was not for pleasure 
they dia: this); but that thep!were Sfeeding on small invertebrates, such as are 
folynth ofp ships’ hottems, At such; times they are very unwary and can be easily 
taken with a dip net alongside of the vessel, as can also the crested auklet, the 
latter on the ,wing. while flying in circles about the vessel. From the time the 
& forte, SUPE Vary es 
qu ere oft Hm lana was sighted there were always some about, but as we 
St Were Seen th 
nearet- CAO hall or BAK bs CodnatsG they became more plentiful and did not 
follokQthe Ship dinyrtartilers owing, ‘ndst likely, to food becoming more abundant. 
OMB aA Gtoml_ THE Aaht OF thé"ancient murrelet is swift and direct, 
TY DB to Hd Curtinde ‘Of thé“water, and not usually much pro- 
Too bed? ae MisERIONe Are AGU Sktélded and are usually performed 
th BW Pigukelp mente" With kreguait stops as it gradually drifts 
nofthwatdt PAG neva beat this ighéties make a long flight; it rises 
re AME) £60 “Ps gu RE? skitis AWhy2close to the water for a short 
distance, and soon drops in again. It is a rapid swimmer and makes 
a VSryRekt Aiped Pang IH dhewhtelfe!/the striking color contrasts in 
eS Page the WIds-gde7 buek,! the! black throat, the white head 
planes! Gna enw HHS WilIsaeYAN'teky conspicuous and good field 
The ae Ubu tay ttfah ih Stall parties of from four to six 
