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PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. IV, January, 1950 
elevation of about 200 to 250 feet on the 
southern end of Yap Island; on the northern 
end of Yap Island the hilly regions have 
dense stands of trees, but here and there ate 
open areas of grassland with scattered Pan- 
danus trees. Most of the rolling region ic 
the south is this same type of savanna. The 
central part of Rumung is much the same. 
Perhaps because of their lower elevation. 
Map and Gagil-Tomil islands do not have 
these open areas. The usual swamps and 
mangroves are present as a fringe about the 
circumference, but tall trees cover most of 
the rest of the surface. 
In the discussion of the species, the habitats 
will be mentioned as mangroves, swamps, 
jungle, or savanna, referring to the various 
situations described above. An asterisk indi- 
cates that specimens were taken. 
Puffinus pacificus, Wedge-tailed Shear- 
water.* — Five were observed flying over the 
south entrance to Tomil Harbor. 
Puffinus Pherminieri, Dusky Shearwater. 
— Only one was seen, at the north end of 
Rumung Island. 
Phaethon lepturus, White-tailed Tropic 
Bird. — Twos and singles were observed sev- 
eral times over Map Island. 
Fregata ariel, Least Man-o’-War Bird. — 
Observed at close range at Yaptown (one 
bird ) and at Balabat ( three ) , August 6 and 
13, respectively. Nine flew over Balabat on 
August 15. Natives reported that the species 
sometimes nested on Yap Island. The bird is 
closely associated with native traditions and 
customs, such as ceremonial dances, in which 
its feathers are used as ornaments. Identifica- 
tion was made of one roughed-out skin used 
as a headdress. 
Sterna fuscata, Sooty Tern. — On July 30. 
six birds were resting on the beach at the 
north end of Rumung Island. 
Sterna lunata, Gray-backed Tern.* — One 
collected from a flock of nine Thalasseus 
bergii off Orila, Map Island. 
Thalasseus bergii, Crested Tern.*— Nine 
individuals were observed on tops of pilings 
of an abandoned fish trap off Orila, Map 
Island. 
Gygis alba Candida, Fairy Tern.* — This 
species was abundant on all the islands in 
those places where there were tall trees some 
distance apart. It was not seen in the deep 
jungle growth or in the savanna areas and 
was most frequently observed in the tall 
breadfruit, banyan, and coconut trees and in 
tall, isolated mangrove trees in the swamps. 
I did not find it in low shrubs such as are used 
by G.a. rothschildi in the western Hawaiian 
islands. 
Also in contrast to rothschildi , Candida was 
very noisy at night. This constant calling 
was observed on three occasions, at 9:00, 
10:30 p.m., and 12:15 A.M. 
The fairy tern, like the man-o’-war bird, 
is frequently used as an ornament of dress. 
Three natives had outlines of this tern tat- 
tooed on their shoulders. 
Anous stolidus pileatus, Common Nod- 
dy.* — The noddy was found only on Tarang 
Island in Tomil Harbor. Here, an estimated 
250 were seen, usually in the tops of pan- 
danus, breadfruit, and chestnut trees. Old 
nests were found in the top whorls of pan 
danus trees, 12 to 18 feet from the ground. 
No nests were observed in higher or lower 
sites. Egg shells were found on the ground, 
indicating that nesting had occurred not long 
before. Some nests were apparently under 
construction, for they contained in their walls 
seaweed that was still green. Furthermore, 
two birds carrying strands of seaweed were 
observed flying into nests. 
Pluvialis dominica fulva, Pacific Golden 
Plover.* — In late July an occasional single 
or pair was observed. By August 15, they 
were quite numerous, 15 to 25 birds in 150 
yards of beach, along the beaches, tidal flats, 
and marshes, but they did not fly or feed in 
flocks. They were also abundant in open 
areas of savanna and around the Nif airfield. 
