EXTRACTIONS FROM THE UNPUBLISHED SPECIES ACCOUNTS OF A. XETMORE 
PROCELSTERNA SAXATIDIS 
Gardiner Island , May 22, 192$ . At daybreak this morning two or three of these little 
terns came about ship where I was delighted to see them. On first landing I looked 
eagerly for their small forms among the many birds circling about for the first 
fifteen minutes without result. In fact I had begun to doubt my early morning iden¬ 
tification until I found two fluttering about a little rock ledge on the 
eastern face of the island. These two were soon in hand,, and I was admiring their 
quiet coloration. The large size of the feet and strength of the tarsi in com¬ 
parison to their size was in particular notable. Later I found three about another 
rock ledge and shot one and in all saw about a dozen. 
Nihoa Island, May 24-- 26 , 192$ . About 100 noted on the rock cliffs at the western 
side of the island. The birds were associated in pairs that congregated in one spot 
to the number of twelve or fifteen couples and elsewhere were scattered among 
the white terns. None of the ledges that they frequented were more than 200 
feet from the water. Their flight was accomplished by short fluttering strokes of 
the wings entirely different from those of other terns and in alighting they 
fluttered the wings and tail to settle the feathers several times in a manner peculiar! 
to themselves alone. It was interesting to note that at times as 
they passed over the waves they dropped the feet and pattered along like petrels 
for a few strokes which explained the apparent over development of the lower 
members. 
June 11-l6 , 192$. Common. Probably 800 pairs inhabit the island. The birds were 
scattered all along the rock, ledges of the cliffs that bordered Adams Bay where 
they nested in little hollows and holes of small size that still gave these 
graceful little terns abundant room. The single egg was laid on the bare rock. 
Only four eggs were seen and of these it was only possible to blow one that 
was added. The others contained embryos nearly ready to hatch. I saw a few 
young newly hatched some slightly older and numbers on the wing. Adults and 
