Jan., 1915 
BIRDS OBSERVED ON FORRESTER ISLAND, ALASKA 
29 
almost every kind of water bird) which nests on South Island — a name I have 
given provisionally to the largest of the three islands bordering Forrester on 
the south. From their description it might be the Least Auklet, since it is re- 
ported to nest beneath masses of boulders on the beach, lays one white egg, 
and has the characteristic cry. Owing to continued stormy weather it was 
not possible to effect a landing until late in June, at which time no traces of 
these birds could be detected. 
A pair of Harlecpiin Ducks was seen on several occasions in a little cove 
half a mile south of the camp. From their behavior it is fairly certain that 
they nested in the vicinity, though long continued search failed to disclose the 
whereabouts of the nest. AVhite-winged Scoters, swimming in pairs near shore, 
were seen at various times, but there is no evidence that they nest on the 
island. Last year a pair of Old-squaw Ducks were reported to have nested on 
the shores of one of the highland lakes. No trace of the species was noted this 
past season. 
The following species are normally found on the island, and nest there 
regularly. 
1. Lunda cirrhata. Tufted Puffin. This species is probably the most 
abundantly represented sea bird on Forrester Island. When resting on the 
water each individual has a sphere of influence, so to speak, being separated 
from its fellows by a distance of several feet. With a field glass this open 
rank formation can be followed for miles along the coast, and for hundreds of 
yards out to sea. It is impossible to count such an innumerable company, and 
guesses on the part of the fishermen ranged from ten thousand to two million. 
By carefully spacing off equal sized areas on a map and estimating the num- 
ber of birds in a given district it was possible to arrive at a very general esti- 
mate of the total population. Such a method has its disadvantages, but it is 
safe to say that at least 70,000 of these birds were on Forrester Island during 
the past season. 
For fearlessness, pluck and dash the Tufted Puffins have no equal on the 
island, and the maledictions and gaff hooks hurled at them during the fishing 
season were probably as numerous as the birds themselves. While their nat- 
ural food consists almost wholly of sand launces, they are by no means averse 
to cleaning the bait from the fishermen’s books. For hours at a time they will 
follow a rowboat, and rarely indeed is a fisherman able to sink a line below 
their diving depth, or slip it into the water without detection. Fortunately 
not all of the puffins are engaged in this thrifty method of gathering food, and 
the boatman is usually able to cross some other fisherman’s path and switch 
the pest on to his trail. 
On one occasion a puffin was stunned by an accurately aimed gaffhook 
and was hauled aboard. Upon recovering consciousness it was held by the 
feet and fed herring until the exasperated boatman terminated its career by 
wringing its neck. This is perbaps an extreme case, but it serves to illustrate 
the boldness of the species and to furnish a reason for the steady increase in 
numbers which the natives have observed during the past twenty years. 
Eggs were in the burrows the third week in June ; young appeared by the 
middle of July, possibly earlier. 
2. Fratercula corniculata. Horned Puffin. The Horned Puffin for some 
unknown reason is comparatively rare on Forrester Island. Conditions appear 
to be as favorable for its existence as for the Tufted Puffin, and yet it is prob- 
