772 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
light, uttering their sharp, querulous cries, which, once heard, are long remembered. 
I believe these terns belonged to the large colonies on the French Frigate Shoals, to 
the northward. 
On May 15, when perhaps 75 miles east of Laysan Island, we encountered 
several species. The black-footed albatross (Diomedea nigripes) was fairly common, 
and I saw a few of the white species (D. immutabilis). The sooty and gray-backed 
terns (Sterna fuliginosa and 8 . lunata) were seen all day, and likewise the uau kane 
(Puffinus cuneatiii) and red-tailed tropic bird (Phaethon rubricauda). The presence 
of these birds is of interest in indicating the kinds which habitually go farthest from 
their nests in search of food. 
Bird Island from northwest. 
About 5 o’clock on the morning of the 16th Laysan was sighted, and shortly 
afterwards was clearly visible to the westward, lying long and low on the horizon, 
with a cloud of sea birds hovering over it. All around us sooty terns were scream- 
ing, and gave some hint of the noise which that far-away company was making, but 
which as yet we could only conjecture. The light-house on the west side rose above 
the low island, and we were greeted with the Stars and Stripes, which Mr. Schlemmer 
loyally keeps waving over this tiny spot of land. Long heavy rollers had set in 
from the northwest, so that, when we arrived off the little settlement on the west side, 
landing seemed risky. Although one of the party went ashore, a general landing 
was not accomplished till the following day. 
Laysan is a rudely quadrilateral island, perhaps not exceeding 30 feet above sea 
level in its highest portion toward the north. It is 3 miles long by H broad, and 
