R. A. Freeman 1964 from Kuria Atoll, Gilbert Islands Nov 17 (cont.) The Ship got underway at 0700 and we accidentally encountered numbers of slender-billed Shearwaters in flocks of up to 40. They were not soaring as Scoters do but flying level with alternating many flaps and gliding. One or two birds had lighter underwings but I'm not convinced they were Scoters - not flashing as I remember Scoters. We saw these birds WNW 2 miles from Kuria, all heading in a southerly direction. Binion put four shots on a possible gull species and it simply disappeared. The captain said he saw it fly off, however. We arrived at Kuria about 3 P.M. There is no lagoon. We saw more conoco here than at any previous atoll - probably due to the absence of a lagoon. We quickly got ashore were greeted and explained our purpose. Roger went off along the shore collecting and - after Binion signed the visitors register in a tiny clapboard shack with pictures of all but the reigning English monarchs, hung and I set out in the direction of a pond, looking for New Zealand Cuckoos on the wing, since the natives reported seeing them occasionally. Binion followed with our