University of Florida 
Gainesville, 32603 
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 
August Jy 19 6 b 
Department of Biology 
Dr. Winston E. Banko 
Division of Birds 
Smithsonian Institution 
Washington 25, D. C. 
Dear Dr. Banko: 
As you perhaps know, in April of this year I accompanied Bob McFarlane 
to Wake Island where, as part of a special interest of mine, we collected 
a number of Golden Plovers. These birds were brought back here frozen, 
and I am currently in the process of extracting their body lipids. Shortly 
Bob and I hope to complete a paper on this species 1 migration to and from 
Wake Island with special emphasis on lipids. 
In my examination of these carcasses prior to lipid extraction, I 
have detected a significant amount of plumage variation, part of which 
might simply be a matter of age. But, I have for comparative purposes 
no birds of known age, and the only way I know of obtaining such material 
readily (other than a banded bird) is to get from the breeding grounds 
young birds which are completely fledged. At least such a sample would 
provide us with birds having a known first-year plumage. Furthermore fall- 
molting adults are valuable to show plumage changes. 
Recently I have been in contact with Max Thompson, and he informs me 
that Golden Plovers are available there and that he could get birds with 
your permission. What I would like to have is a series of study skins of 
known first-year birds and, if possible, molting adults. They do not have 
to be completely made up but could be flat skins with wing and tail spread. 
Naturally all this material would be your property. I simply need to 
study the plumage variation before Bob and I can terminate our study, 
correlating where possible age (and sex) with lipid deposits. Anything 
that Max and his group could obtain would be returned as soon as possible. 
I would appreciate your immediate consideration this request, for 
evidently the birds are now available to Max. The sooner he can be contacted 
the better will be his chances of obtaining the necessary sample. 
Very truly yours 
David W. Johnston 
Assistant Professor 
DWJ:mlh 
