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Laysan Albatross Diomedea immutabilis 1 
On 24 April at 2217 hours one Laysan Albatross was seen at 29-36 N, 
117-26 W. A trawl was being put in the water from the well-lighted fantail 
of the Washington . The bird made several passes by the fantail but did not 
stay with the ship when she got underway. 
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 7 
Sooty/Slenderbill Shearwater Puffinus sp. 5 
Small numbers of Sooty Shearwaters were seen 20 through 23 April while 
working in the deep water (1000 fathoms t) northeast of Guadalupe Island. 
Identifications are believed good as the brilliant white underwings were 
seen. On 23 April two Sooty Shearwaters were flushed from the surface of the 
water by the approaching ship. None of the birds seen were thought to be 
migrating. 
Of five birds called Sooty/Slenderbills, one seen on 21 April was prob¬ 
ably a Sooty; however, the underwings were not seen. The other four birds 
were recorded as Slenderbills by Dr. Hubbs at 0523 on 5 May just off the 
Coronado Islands. 
Black-vented Shearwater Puffinus puffinus opisthomelas 2,521 
This Shearwater is now breeding on Islote Negro, a small islet, off 
the west coast of Guadalupe Island. The birds also breed at this time on 
Isla Cedros and Isla Natividad which are off Point San Eugenia, Baja 
California. These islands are located about 170 miles east by southeast 
of Guadalupe. Thus the area in which we were working was north and between 
two breeding concentrations. Despite our proximity to the breeding islands, 
numbers observed at sea were small. However, 2500 of this species were seen 
on 29 April off the south end of Guadalupe Island. The birds were feeding 
in a large flock about two miles east of Islote Zapato. A discussion of 
this flock is included in the account for this species in the accompanying 
report on Guadalupe Islands. 
This subspecies is markedly different from the Newell Shearwater sub¬ 
species of Hawaii. The flight pattern is different, but besides this vari¬ 
able characteristic, the coloration of the two birds would never be confused. 
The upper surface of the Newell is a clear black whereas that of the Black- 
vented is a brownish-black. The Black-vented also has more dark coloration 
below the eye and on the neck, lacking the sharp dividing line of black and 
white found in the Newell. Most distinctive is the dark crissum which gives 
P. £. opisthomelas its common name. 
Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopus 1 
One bird was identified as being of this species on 21 April. The 
large size, contrasting dark upper-parts and light lower-parts, and the slow, 
lazy flight were recorded. It was, however, recorded with a reliability of 
three, as I am not thoroughly familiar with this species. An additional 
sighting of a shearwater/petrel on 5 May off the Coronados may have been this 
