N 
16 Jan., 1965 As usual with Saturdays, a good part of 
the day is taken up with the shorebird and seal census. 
Jim and I took the beaches - two interesting discoveries. 
First, Sand Island is completely gone again - so, 
seals-seals - seals all over the island, we found 74 
of them, 12 of those we banded yesterday (does this 12 
of 20, or 60 per cent, refledt that 60 per cent of the 
seal population is on the island, or that there are 
124 seals in the atoll?), and a total of 42 that were 
tagged. 
There was an increase in Sandering Tattlers - we found 
14 of them on the east beach. They were for the mst 
part in the Scaevola near the beach. Is their increase 
during the present (very) foul weather due to the fact 
that the reef, on which they feed during the day, 
is awash with heavy surf, with the consequent only 
dry area available (remember Sand Is.ts gone) ±x our 
little paradise. This seems likely but, Knfartuanstxsiy 
not proveable. 
One Black-foot Albatross egg has hatched - both 
parents are near the nest, one closely brooding the 
downy white chcik. 15 or so other Black-foot nests 
were spot checked, but all had eggs. Our Black-foot 
count actually increase by 10 to 162, whereas the 
Laysan count was about the same. Considering that 
Dennis and I swithc about (alternating beach and interior] 
and that today Jim Priest was along, out constancy in 
numbers must reflect that which is here. I think 
our sampling of such things as shorebirds, nesting 
Laysans and Blackfeet, adult Blue-faced Boobies and, 
until recently. Browns, is good. Less good is Red-foot 
Boobies and Frigates, and worst of all are total island 
use by Benins, walker Laysans, Wedge-tails when they 
are here. 
Behavior again today on boobies, again they closed up 
early. 
1? Jan., 1965 Spent the day checking the boobies every 
hour, thd sky was very light at 0-700, and most of the 
boobies had already gone. They had all begun to sleep 
very early the night before. The moon was full, there 
were almost no kbh£x clouds. 
Saw Jim Priest off this P.M. He stayed sincesi Thur, 
c> 
V 
