R.S. Crossin 
1966 
SIC 11 
The island is very densely vegetated, primarily coconut palms, interspersed 
with broad leaf evergreen. Orchids and other epiphytes are very dense on most 
of the trees and testifies to the abundant rain which the island must receive. 
Birds - Golden Plover - scattered throughout the island, and strangely, 
found in the most dense vegetation. At least 20 were noted by myself. One was 
collected. 
Sanderling - Delong collected one on the south beach. No others 
were seen. 
Common Noddy Tern - extremely abundant over the entire island the 
birds nest commonly in the coconut palms and many were seen carrying nest material 
to sites. Also many goung were noted being fed by adults on the palm fronds. 
5 specimens collected. Estimated 20,000 on island. 
Hawaiian Noddy Tern - scarce - only three individuals seen. One 
collected may be more common than this first survey showed. 
Fairy Tern - extremely abundant over the whole island. This species 
was noted perching in all types of vegetation. Estimated 30-^0,000. 
New Zealand Cuckoo - about 10 birds were seen and more heard - none 
was collected. 
In addition to the above - Red-footed Boobies were seen off shore; and the 
natives claim that a large pigeon, probably Ducula pacifica Is found. About five 
of us are fairly certain that the Black-naped Tern was seen from the ship along 
the beach just at sunrise. 
Pago Pago, American Samoa 
February 19 - Very few birds, Upon arriving near islands yesterday - total of 
6l . Arrived in harbor this morning before daybreak. Max and I make connections 
to go to West Samoa. 
Western Samoa - Took the 1730 Polynesian Airline flight out from Pago Airport 
and arrived about 1815 on island on Upolu, Western Samoa. The airport is roughly 
20 miles from tha main town, Apia, and a rickety old wooden bus makes the haul 
along a narrow hardtop road. Plane fare over was $ 26.60 round trip. We stayed 
at the Aggie Gray Hotel at $10. a day. Rainy seasons is on and rain fell in 
torrents most of the night. 
February 20 - Made connections with a Mr. Gray at the hotel to send a boy off 
into the country to get a car - a Datsun - which is the only available rental 
car in Apia - at $15 per day. It rained the entire day, mostly In torrents and 
we decided to leave on the late afternoon flight back to Pago. Our trip up the 
mountain in the rent car was halted by an enormous tree which had blown across 
the road just at the beginning of good clove forest above the seismograph stations 
Area to this point is rather heavily settled. 
