SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 
June 3» 196^ 
(Mrs.) Maryanna Smellow 
Division of Birds 
Smithsonian Institution 
Washington 25, D.C. 
Dear Maryanna; 
This morning we shipped a box of eggs collected over the last two 
months. I hope they arrive unbroken. Each is individually wrapped and 
the data is written on the egg in most cases. Other collections will be 
in the mail shortly. 
I received the TWX this noon and quickly got an answer back to you. 
The frigates are here, but catching them is another problem. I do not 
want to disturb the nesting colony. They do roost on the small SW islet 
at night but fly when disturbed. I suggest a canon net to catch all of 
these at once. I think there would be enough. We could use the net later 
for banding purposes also. 
I also would like to bring the albino Sooty Tern chick back to D.C. 
with in©« I think that it would be desirable to raise it to an adult# I 
thought that the zoo there in D.C* could do this since it is run by the 
Smithsonian# I do not know how rare the bird is, but it certainly is 
unusual. I do not think that it should be kept out here for several reasons# 
One, I would hate to see something happen to it# When one of these Coast 
Guardsman gets drunk, there is always a chance that something might happen 
to it# It hasn f t happened so far, but I don’t want to push our luck to far# 
Two, our food supply will run out when the adult sooties leave. We can get 
frozen squid and fish in D.C. all year long# Three, it would be of more 
value as an adult. There are problems in bringing it back to D.C., however. 
First, I need authorization from MATS headquarters to carry it on a MATS 
plane# Then I 1 11 need necessary permits to get through customs. If itte 
impossible at the present time maybe we can wait until the next bird shipment. 
Someone should take it all the way to D.C., however. If I bring it, I will 
bring enough food to keeyp it fed along the way# The S#X#F#B#B#C. might 
come in handy after all. 
I had hoped to leave here at the end of next week. The construction 
crew is suppose to leave late Friday# They will be through with all of 
their heavy work by then. Only painting the tower will be left. I ana# 
staying after they leave to ascertain their total damages and start every-* 
thing off again# 
I received your card which you sent from the world’s Fair. I appreciate 
it very much. We had about begun to believe that no one was writting any 
more. We have also missed the weekly droppings. Dr. Ely never writes either. 
