Ludwig, James P . 
19b5 
48 
Tried egg removal experiments on some Laysan's today: If egg is 
out of nest or closer, bird will set on it. At a distance of 15 inches 
no bird sat on displaced egg, but in empty nes^up. 34 exp. on 21 birds. 
A bird sittingon empty nestiis very disturbed. 
Late in the evening I banded eighty-nine Bonins and recovered six. 
Bonins are here in almost as great numbers as September o. Many are 
fighting, and deep burrows are being dug. 
December 4 --In the A.M. we tagged three hundred Laysan Albatross on 
Midway Sand Island.plbt and I caught up on paperwork. In P.M. went 
to overrun where we collected two American Widgefon ? skeletons, two 
Green-winged Teal, and another sick Mottled Duck. Also found a dead 
mottled duck which I put aside for future reference as a skeleton. 
Saw two showiers at close range, but got neither one. In the P.M. I 
worked on skins and skeletons and did more paper work. I need a 
secretary. Roger goes"' to Kure tomorrow. 
December 5--In A.M. while Roger took care of odds and ends and looked 
for a lost string of Bonin Bands, I did paper work and banded IT6 
albatross on study area on Sand Island. We now have 57^ Bands on in this 
area and only a few recoveries. In the P.M. put Roger on plane to Kure, 
and walked down to overrun ponds. There saw at close range a Showier, 
a Widgeon, two Pintail, four Green-winged Teal. The ducks that I thought 
might have been Gadwalls previously were probably Widgeon: Had a long 
look at the one today. Caught a sick dbPintail that I skinned. Counted 
twelve Sharp-tails at once today. All the ducks here are dying now, and 
1*11 try to get them as they do. Tomorrow its off to area I on 
Eastern to five hundred bands. 
