42 Director' s Annual Report. 



disturbed they rise and circle gracefully about for a time, but 

 always return to the same spot. When they alight they all sit 

 facing the wind. 



On Eastern Island I found a number of colonies of different 

 sizes distributed here and there over the island. All of the twenty 

 birds shot had the feet black in life. A nest located in the bushes 

 toward the centre of Eastern Island may be taken as typical of all 

 seen; it is a rather bulky strudlure composed for the most part of 

 sea moss, to which w^ere added twigs, leaves, bits of sponge, etc. 

 All of the material is cemented together with the droppings of the 

 bird. The nests were always placed in colonies of a dozen or more, 

 and the fully fledged young were usually sitting on the bushes. 

 But a single &%^, which proved to be infertile, was found close by, 

 and as the nests contained no young it would seem that this species 

 nests earlier than the other Terns on the island. 



The Hawaiian Tern seldom goes far out to sea. It is always 

 to be seen in small flocks sailing about over the reefs in search of 

 surface-swimming fish, which constitute its chief food. 



Gygis alba kittlitzi Hartert.— White Tern. 



This fearless and inquisitive bird was by no means abundant 

 on Sand Island. The few found were sitting with their young in 

 the bushes on the sand piles. Specimens secured were taken 

 without difficulty by the hands. On Eastern Island the birds 

 were more abundant. No eggs were colledled, but one newly 

 hatched young was secured. Young which were assuming the 

 first plumage were quite common. 



DIOMEDEID^. 



Diomedea immutabilis Roths. — Gooney. 



There were the carcasses of a very few birds on Sand Island 

 which had evidently been killed several months before our visit. 

 On Eastern Island skeletons of this species were more common, 

 but they were by no means as plentiful as those of the following 

 species. I should say that the Gooney was less than a third as 

 abundant as the Black-footed Albatross, judging by the number 

 of dead bodies of each to be seen. None of our party saw a living 

 bird of either species. 



[296] 



