12 
Left to Right : Eduardo, Mansu- 
eta, and Elias. Photo sent by 
E. Lerios of Tanauan, Philip- 
pines. Mansueta holds the hand 
and streamer found on the bird. 
CHILD CATCHES BANDED 
BIRD IN PHILIPPINES 
Eusbio Lerios of Tanauan, 
Philippines, has reported the cap- 
ture by his daughter Mansuetta of 
a Sooty Tern wearing a band and 
streamer. This bird was banded by 
our Pacific Program personnel on 
Sand Island, Johnston Atoll, while 
it was still a nestling. Mr. 
Lerios gives the following account 
of the capture : 
"The strong wind which was 
about to be a typhoon had just 
stopped when that very weak bird 
was seen on the seashore. With- 
out any hesitation my daughter 
approached it and caught it. She 
helped the bird to let it fly but 
it was too weak. So she got a 
stick and let the bird stand on 
it, still it was to no avail for 
the bird just fall from it. Later, 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES 
7676 
she carried the bird home and we 
tried to feed it in order to let 
it live but it was in vain. And 
at about six o’clock in the after- 
noon of the same day its eyes be- 
gan to close until it breathed its 
last.... It had an orange ribbon on 
its left foot and a white ring on 
the right." 
We sincerely appreciate the 
interest and effort shown by 
people like the Lerios family in 
reporting birds to us. These re- 
ports are of great assistance to 
the scientists who wish to study 
the birds’ habits and movements. 
READERS URGED TO 
CONTRIBUTE NEWS 
Readers of the Pacific Bird Obser- 
ver are urged to send their person- 
al observations of Pacific birds 
directly to the Pacific Ocean Bio- 
logical Survey Program, Smithsonian 
Institution, Washington, DC . , 20560. 
Information on the numbers of birds 
and the local breeding and migra- 
tion schedules of various species 
is especially needed. Also useful 
are interesting photographs and 
information about people with birds. 
Appropriate items may be published 
in future issues. We welcome re- 
quests to be put on our free mail- 
ing list for future issues. 
3 9088 01 
Letters to us concerning our 
program in the Pacific and re- 
quests to be put on our free 
mailing list for the Pacific 
Bird Observer should be ad- 
dressed to Pacific Ocean Bio- 
logical Survey Program, Smith- 
sonian Institution, Washington, 
DC., 20560. 
