t 
EXTRACTIONS FROM THE UNPUBLISHED SPECIES ACCOUNTS OF A. WETMORE 
GYCTS ALBA 
guano piles, the southeastern rock ledges, at the Sesuvium, along the Beach to 
the northwest and about the old Buildings. They exhibit much curiosity and 
come out to hover in the air, a foot to six feet from one T s head giving opportunity 
to observe th e ir (pure) coloring at its best. The dark markings about the eye 
give that liquid orb an appearance of size depth that is deceptive. Though they 
rest at night they appear to be able to see well in the dark and often fly about 
long after sunset. Their notes do ntt correspond with their coloration as they 
consist of a series of low froglike grunts uttered in a peculiar tone wholly 
unlike any other bird notes known to me. 
They are solicitous for eggs or young and when the latter have been destroyed 
in any way seem hardly Able to realize the fact as for a day or two they may 
come (peering) about to give it food. 
Lisiansky Island , May 15, 1925* One seen. 
May 17, 1925 * Two hovered over my hut this evening. Have not found the birds 
resting in the rocks in this island however. 
May 21 , 1923 . Seen occasionally at sea today between Maro and Dowsett and 
Gardiner Island. 
Gardiner Island , May 22 , 1925 . Common. In pairs nesting on the steep rock 
surfaces. About 150-200 pairs. Two taken were mated and I found developing 
eggs in the female. 
May 25 , 1925 . Noted occasionally at sea north of French Frigate Shoals. 
Nihoa Island , May 24 - 27 / 1925 « The white tern is abundant on the huge cliff 
that forms the western side of Nihoa. During the two- days here I have had some 
opportunity to observe them. Birds were scattered in pairs over the greater part 
1 
of the huge rock surface occasional dots of white marking breeding sites at 
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elevations of 700 or 800 feet below Millers Peak. Comparatively few ranged 
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above 500 feet and the greater part clustered in one colony and seme scattered 
