Amerman, Kenneth 1963 35 December 2--Went through half of rat area hacking out the trails in the morning. Most of the Laysan's have eggs already. Hopefully, I can find a few which do not, for study nests. Primarily only single birds present, incubating. A few pairs were seen. These apparently will lay eggs very soon or have just laid. A few pairs are still dancing and a few trios and groups of four are standing around together. Many of these birds move around and exchange groups, as well as dancing with several different birds or attempting to do so. These may prove to be the "unemployed" or unmated birds. Started around beach in afternoon, with object of cencusing all albatross on island. Wound up covering only from dock to south point, counting birds and eggs. Counts: Laysan Black-foot egg no eggs egg no egg 180 127 133 37 Began moving furniture and supplies into house after dinner. December 5--Set up twenty-five Laysan albatross study nests in rat area (area A-L). Eleven new recoveries in birds on eggs. Also finished clearing trap lines. Change over on nest No. around noon. December 4--Began catching up on aloatross recoveries. Covered area from dock to south point (beach and interior). Got 115 Laysans, of which 101 were incubating, and 41 Black-feet, 36 on eggs. One Laysan and one Black-foot each had two eggs. About ten abandoned eggs seen, most, if not all, black-feet.