'EXTRACTIONS FROM THE UNPUBLISHED SPECIES ACCOUNTS OF A. WETMORE 
Wake Island , July 27- August 5 , 1923 . 
STERNA FUSCATA 
A colony of about 3000 birds found on the eastern end of Peale Island where they 
are now nesting. About one third have eggs in part fresh and in part incubated. 
Their breeding season here is just beginning as females are laying or preparing to 
lay. They have chosen a site on bare sand in part shaded by Tournefortia trees. 
A small series of eggs taken July 30. 
The birds fly about over the entire island in pairs of little groups either 
as part of a mating exhibition or in passing to fishing grounds. The pursuit 
of these terns by Frigate-birds is spirited as the birds travel swiftly and 
dodge in and out. The robber follows relentlessly but is frequently foiled by 
some quick turn on the part of the pursued. 
This species suffered heavily at the hands of the Japanese poachers as the 
bones of thousands lie among the trees near the shacks on Peale Island. 
ANOUS STOLIDUS PILEATUS 
The most abundant bird here numbering at least 6000. The birds are now 
nesting and are distributed evenly over the entire atoll. Nests are masses 
of twigs a foot or so high and of equal diameter, sometimes smaller, placed 
in Tournefortia or ( ) trees from three to fifteen feet from the ground. A 
few young are ready to fly, man6 are much smaller and about one-fourth of the 
nests contain eggs. A few nests are placed on large rocks usually elevated where 
they are free from marauding crabs. 
As I pass through the trees the adults leave their nests with a rattle of 
wings in the branches and dash out to circle about with harsh calls. As I 
pass through the woods they are continually about me. The young utter insistent 
piping calls. 
A few of the young are light--the majority are dark. 
Adults are active both by night and day. 
