A Monograph oj Marcus Island. 115 



let go its catch oue by one as it came in would here, withiu fifty 

 yards of its nest, disgorge its last fish, which would be eagerly 

 caught up b}' any one of its pursuers that was able to secure it. 

 Panting and excited the old boobies would drop down on arriving 

 at the colon}' in an exhausted condition. 



The frigate birds showed much discrimination, seledling at 

 once the boobies that were most heavily laden and consequently 

 more liable to pay generous toll when brought in contact with this 

 high-handed system of exacfting customs duties. Though tropic 

 birds were attacked they were more rapid flj^ers and more expert 

 at evading pursuit. As in the story of the two dogs that quar- 

 relled over a bone, it was not uncommon in the performances I have 

 described to see the tiny white tern reap the most substantial 

 benefit from one of these encounters. Battles similar to those 

 mentioned were to be seen during the entire day, but towards 

 nightfall they were more numerous as well as more severe. 



Four young birds. Museum Nos. 2096-99, were secured from 

 the nests. The old birds kept out of reach of a bambu pole which 

 was my only weapon. 



Tringa acuminata (Horsf.). Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. 



A single example, undoubtedly of this species, was seen at 

 close range on August 6, on the beach towards the north point. 



Heteractitis incanus (Gmel.). Wandering Tattler. 



A poorly mounted bird, Museum No. 2100, was secured from 

 a Japanese. It has the nasal grooves extending forward more than 

 two-thirds the length of the bill. The measurements are : wing 

 6.60, tail 2.75, tarsus 1.35, toe 1.30, culmen 1.50, depth of bill .27. 

 The tarsus is irregularly plated behind for two-thirds its length, 

 a fact which is disquieting to the range usuall}^ assigned the two 

 species in this ocean if taken in connedtion with the locality the 

 specimen comes from, and also that it was secured during the spring 

 months. I saw several individuals on the beach, but secured only 

 the one measured above. 



Charadrius dominicus fulvus (Gmel.). Pacific Golden 



Plover. 



One bird was flushed while crossing one of the patches of 

 alluvial deposit, and one bird was secured from the foreman of 



