4-15-23 
36 
Took the cameras and worked down the lagoon shore toward the tobacco 
patch at its so. w. corner but had more aggravation than success. Altho 
I did get 200 it. of film in breaks between the cloud bank - . A sudden 
os/np f-o 
gust smashed my glasses so I had a trip clear to A add to my discomfort. 
/ 
The only real, bright spot was when we came on two of the almost 
extinct Laysan Honey Eater (Himatione traithii), a charming little red 
mite of a thing that has well-nigh passed with the passing of the vegeta- 
tion. This is the same place Reno saw his 3? so as far as we now know 
we were looking at 2 of the 3 last survivors. They had done their best 
xo adapx themselves to the changed environment and were scrambling about 
among the rocks and on'the guano earth picking up small flies. Their 
I 
charming, song is out of proportion to their size. •• Altogether they cheered 
■ ^ 
t 
my morning immensely, althotheir future can be only extinction unless a 
* y / 
more rapid restoration of the island can be effectual than I think possible. 
Back to the ''tobacco patch' 1 so. w. of lagoon for whole afternoon. Con¬ 
tinuation of aggravating cloud banks & moments of misty rain. 
Saw a single Kimatione near same rocks we found them in this morning. 
* * 
Crossed the sand ridge through_§cattering Laysan Albatrosses to the So. 
E. end of the island and made some surf film that I fear will be second 
•• 
rate. 
Back to the tobacco patch, amid the swarming host of Sterna fuliginosa 
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that apparently intend nesting in the shade of the sparse green tobacco 
leaves. Ho eggs' as yet and a ° coll, had no egg larger than 3 mm. in 
ovary. 
,irs 
of 
quia 
piscator 
X 0 
the 
'• jll 
fare of 
solicitous as to the • ell fare of ike incubating bird and came to the nest 
frequent intervals. Altho the egg was in each case laid and inc. begun 
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