Oct. 5 Five days out of Oahu - Gilbert-Marshalls 
Number of Observations of Different Size Groups 
1-10 : 31-40 : 61-70 : 
lffi-20 : 41-50 : 71-80 : 
21-30 : ' 51-60 :: 
No Fed-tailed Tropic Birds have been seen at 
sea for the prior four days, while a total of 
three were seen today. 
0646 - 1 - flying E 
0821 - 1 - flying N 
1100 - 1 - flying N 
At 2230 one individual of this -species came aboard 
ship, was banded and released. This at least 
demonstrates that some tronicbirds fly at night 
but the birds peculiar behaviour after banding 
might indicate that this is not usually the case. 
At first, when captured, the bird showed about, 
the usual amount of resistence to be expected in 
this species. But when Binion Amerson, standing 
on the boat deck, cupped the bird in his hands 
and released the wings the bird would not fly and 
only sat there docilely (for five minutes or 
more as we debated ..what to do with the bird) It 
could be stroked on the back and head without 
arousing its ire but it seemed otherwise alert. 
Finally it was thrown into the a ir and it flew 
away. It was heavily infested with ectoparasites. 
\ 
i 
