C. G. Loran Station, Sand Island, Johnston Island Atoll seen before. It is very dark and is quite heavyset (not an oribatid). After a few light showers we all proceeded to the East end to observe the effects of the leg color markers on the Sooty Terns. We could easily see the marked birds from a distance. They seemed to be having no difficulty in walking and only one was seen pulling at the markers. It was noted that one might have difficulty in seeing the marker when viewing the bird from its right side while it is flying. The Gray-backed Tern chick which appeared to be hatching on the 21st was checked and found dead. It didn't get out of the shell. An immature Sooty Tern was killed and checked for ectoparasites. An important find was the discovery of a few shaft feather mites on this young bird. No colony had started inside any shaft, but one mite was found lying (facing downward) in the grave above the superior umbilicus.(A). Another mite was discovered burrowing into the shaft just above the superior umbilicus. The hole was in the center of the grave and the mite was entering laterally (B).