3 
As in May, Wedgetailed Shearwaters were the only species present 
every day of the trip. Dark phase individuals were first encountered 
June 7 in the vicinity of 13°N. Dark birds constituted the majority of 
this species for the next 13 days, throughout the grid and to 17°N. 
Many individuals were noted with obvious gaps in the primaries due to 
molting feathers* 
From June 7-9, between 13°N and 8°N, 37 all-dark birds were recorded 
which may have been Wedgetails but which more closely resembled petrels. 
None of these were observed undergoing obvious molt, as were many of the 
definite Wedgetails in the same area. It is possible that these birds 
were Murphy*s Petrels. 
Sooty Terns were more erratic in their distribution than Wedgetails, 
being absent some days and present in large flocks the next. This species 
was present in 58 of 71 mixed flocks (2 or more species). Immatures were 
observed in all areas except around Oahu. In nearly every sighting of 
immatures the birds were accompanied by one or more adults. Several adult 
young pairs were recorded and on at least one occasion two adults appeared 
« 
to be instructing two young birds in methods of feeding. These adult- im¬ 
mature associations at sea parallel similar observations in the breeding 
colonies. Immatures were much more likely to approach the ship than adults* 
flying about it for several minutes as if attempting to land on a few 
occasions. A few birds were collected which possessed brood patches or 
1 
partial ones but were undergoing molt in primaries, inner secondaries 
and/or tail. Two other birds with brown flecking on the underparts, 
possibly representing subadults, were collected, emphasizing the value 
of collecting large series of these birds at sea. 
