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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 Harlequin 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. White-winged Seoters, 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 distanee 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 distrier 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 du?ing the fishing season were probably as numerous as the birds themselves. While their nat- ural food consists almost wholly of sand launees, they are by no means averse to cleaning the bait from the fishermen's hooks. 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 perhaps an extreme ease, 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-