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k 
DRAFT 
Mar.-Gil.,At Sea 
CHRISTMAS ISLAND SHEARWATER 
One individual recorded in October halfway between Johnston Atoll and 
Taongi Atoll. Eight seen on the return trip, randomly distributed. 
AUDUBON’S SHEARWATER 
Two birds of this species were seen on. November 22 approximately 850 
miles northwest of the Phoenix Islands 
) 
/fne nearest breeding locality. 
NEWELL’S SHEARWATER 
One recorded on October 2 about 200 miles from Oahu and a second on 
% 
October 3 about 400 miles from Oahu. 
ALL-DARK PUFFINUS GROUP 
The Sooty, Slender-billed and Palefooted Shearwaters are considered 
together due to difficulties in separating them in the field. Three definite 
Pale-footed Shearwaters were seen on October 3* They came very close to the 
ship and the whitish bill was clearly visible. They appear to be the least 
common of the three species, in fact, almost rare, but probably occur oftener 
than definite identifications indicate. Flight is slower than that of the 
Sooty Shearwater and the birds do not arc as high but flocks, if they occur, 
could easily be confused with the Sooty at a distance when wing-linings and 
bill cannot be seen. 
A total of 2023 Sooty Shearwaters was recorded in October, 19^0 of them 
on three successive days (969 Oct. 4, 83^ Oct. 5; 137 Oct. 6, 852, 804 and 
118, respectively, in flocks of 5 to 75 individuals). Nearly 100 percent of 
these birds were flying due south. Though some birds of the two other species 
may have been misidentified as this species, especially small groups and single 
individuals, by far the majority were this species. No reason can be given 
for the striking concentration between l69°W and l80°W. 
