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R. Clapp - 1964 
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Nov, 17, 1964 - Maiana Atoll, and Kuria Atoll 
We got ‘up at some godawful hour (5:45) I think 
it was, and returned to the ship, Binion sho 
a Black-naped Tern on the way, an adult. 
After eatinfc a hasty breakfast I spent the 
rest of the morning preparing the specimens we 
collected uesterday including the 18 Ruddy _ 
Turnstones (l2,of which I prepared as alcoholics; 
Although, my enusiasm was perhaps too grea 
yesterday, I *ot a number of interesting notes 
on the molt in this species, since this was the 
only adequate series we have gotten from any 
Later I packed away more of my eyes, I think 
I have about 5 dozen now, which Should furnisn 
the beginnings of a small scale investigation. 
Probably either Laridae or Scopacidae and 
Charadriidae should be used as base groups for 
this proposed, if slightly amateurish, pilo 
s ~ “ 
We reached Kuria atoll and were ashore on 
Kuria Island, the more southern of the two islands 
bv four. This island did not have the expanse 
of sand flat that Makin and Maiana did and 
appeared to be a typical Coconut Island. ery 
many of the coconuts were dead, with their 
corns broken off, possibly from the typhoon 
of 1958. These broken stubs frequently have 
Fairy Terns fiSStlfi perching on them 
and these birds may be nesting. Of t J e 
Fairy Terns collected today, (of which two were 
on such stubs) all had brood patches. 
Hawaiian Noddies occur in small numbers and 
many nests (although not nearly so thickly found 
as on Makin) were situated in the limbs of dead 
trees. Some of these nests appeared to be 
^Common* Noddies were perhaps the most numerous 
tern in the mile or so strecth of interior we 
worked south of the village. f e et 
observed perching on palm fronds some 60-75 feet 
up and seen flying over just as fluently. 
. P Using the 12 gauge I collected IS birds with 
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