Black-legged Kittiwake ( Rissa tridactyla ) - Of the total of 55 
•individuals recorded only one or two were other than first year 
birds. All but 7 were recorded in the northeast corner of the 
grid which is nearest to the channel islands. Of all the gulls 
encountered, this was the only one that did not habitually 
follow the ship. 
Terns: The three birds observed were either Common ’Terns 
( Sterna hirundo ) or Forster’s Terns ( Sterna forsteri ). Both 
would be expected to occur within this area, although neither 
normally ocaurs in the Central Pacific Ocean. 
Alcids: Unfamiliarity with this group of birds led to only 
tentative identifications. As with the Gulls, this group is 
an important element of this eastern Pacific avifauna, but is 
almost completely absent from the Central Pacific. This group 
% 
presents new problems in that they spend the greatest part of 
their time either sitting on the surface or diving beneath it. 
They are thus very difficult to find and identify. 
Ancient Murrelet ( Synthliboramphus antiquum ) - One individual 
well observed. 
Marbled Murrelet ( Brachyramphus marmoratum ) - One individual 
well observed. 
Cassin’s Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleutica) - Probably the most 
common alcid in the area, but only one bird was well observed. 
