A number of different factors probably contributed to this decrease. 
This area was one sera sampled during the previous trip. Sudden rushes to 
seize birds for sampling undoubtedly resulted in a greater proportion of 
eggs (and small chicks) having been kicked out of nests than would have 
been displaced during a more leisurely survey of the colony. During our 
last visit, this area, like most of the others, primarily contained eggs 
in varying stages of incubation aril very young naked chicks. During blood 
sampling these nests undoubtedly received solar radiation for a longer 
period than is usual at these stages of development. Increased growth 
of Tribulus , particularly pronounced in this area, may have been a partial 
causative factor. 
On the morning of 14 August meristip data were, taken on chicks and 
eggs, and on molt cycle in the primaries, rectrices, and secondaries of 
nine Lesser Frigatebird females from nests with eggs or newly hatched 
young* Briefly, the results were these: 
1* Weights of five newly hatched young ranged from 39#3 to 50.9 grams with 
a mean of 43.7 grams. 
2. Weights of ten fresh eggs ranged from 48.3 grams to 64.4 grams with 
a mean of 58.7 grams. 
3. Volumes of these same ten eggs ranged from 45.7 to 60.8 cubic centimeters 
with a mean of 58.5 cubic centimeters. 
4. Specific gravities of these same ten eggs ranged from 1.01 to 1.06 
with a mean specific gravity of 1.04. 
5. Weights of six of these eggs expressed as percentage of body weight 
of the adult female at the nest ranged from 6.1 to 7*8 % with a mean of 
7*1 % (The small extreme in each of the above four measurements were 
all from an egg which was apparently the first egg the bird had laid 
(if large deposits of clotted blood on the egg are a sufficient criterion.) 
6. No molt or sign of interruption of molt was present in the primaries, 
secondaries and rectrices of 8 of the 9 females examined. In the ninth 
bird, which was brooding a newly hatched chick, differences in color 
and wear in the primaries indicated an irregular molt pattern. 
7. In the table presented on the following page are partial results 
of dimension data on Lesser Frigatebird eggs from Howland Island. 
Data on Great Frigatebird eggs from Howland Island and from Ascension 
