- 5 - 
dispersion of this group (see above) taken in account with the fact that 
no birds were seen in the central and southern portions of the grid suggests 
the possibility that some distribution change may be underway. On the other 
hand, the east-west distribution remains virtually unchanged from last month. 
One dark phase bird was collected. There appeared no advance of gonad 
breeding condition compared to specimens from earlier cruises. 
Fork-tailed Petrel (O ceanodroma furcata ) 1? 
The increase over last month is probably due to differences in areas 
sampled. Compared to January, there aoyears to have been a density shift from 
the central to the northern section of the grid, 
Leach's Storm Petrel ( Oceanodroma leucorhoa ) 90 +2 nocturnal 
The higher number observed over last cruise is probably due to the better 
observation conditions during this cruise. North-south density-distribution 
remains virtually unchanged, while east-west distribution would appear to have 
reversed since last cruise. This is probably as a result in differences of 
areas surveyed during daylight and also due to weather variations. 
Two specimens were collected; neither showed advanced gonad condition. 
In addition to 90 Leach's, most of the 19 birds identified only as storm 
petrel species were probably Leach's. 
Red-tailed Tropicbird ( Phaethon rubricauda ) 2 +1 nocturnal 
All three birds were in adult plumage, and all were single signtings. 
These records, combined with those of last cruise, would suggest that the 
grid area is included in the normal range for this species despite its 
formerly unrecorded presence in this part of the pacific. 
All three sightings were in the southern third of the grid. None 
were collected 
