Sooty Tern cont. 
rlocks (disregarding Sooty/Slender-billed Shearwater flocks). From this 
Pi.e1iminary cruise, it appears that the grid area as a whole serves as a 
suitable feeding ground for terns during this period. Intensive feeding, 
however, was seldom observed. Flocks would consistently break up and re¬ 
group at distant points. Six birds were collected. 
Gray-backed Tern (1) 
One bird was seen in a large mixed feeding flock N*NE Howland Island on 17 
September. None was collected. 
Common Noddy Tern (49) 
Forty of the 49 birds observed were found in a large feeding flock (1,032) 
aoout 60 miles west of Baker Island on 19 September. Single birds were occ¬ 
asionally seen on floating debris. Three birds were collected. 
Fairy Tern (34) 
Scattered individuals or small groups were noted every day of the grid 
cruise, usually in mixed feeding flocks. A large concentration of 12 birds 
was noted in a huge feeding flock ca. 60 miles west of Baker Island on 19 
September. None was collected. 
