26. 24 Dec (cont.) Kittiwakes, two in adult plumage, one in imm. plumage, and also saw another gull, either a Herring or Western Gull in Imm. plumage. Checked the Laysans and Blackfeet. The gull skinned out. Try that again - The gull was skinned out. The rain continued on into the night. Cold. 25 Ded. Christmas. We rest, read, and generally relax all day, only checking the goonies. A new storm is upon us - rain less today. Blue Sand Hoag 737-98231 Bill R17 - uncoded? land - new to island? 26 Dec. Shore-bird and seal census, Laysan and Black- foot nest checks. The Blue-faced Boobies are much more active now, and sky-pointing is a commonly seen event, whereas it was never seen in November. Mated as well as unmated birds sky-point, and the functions are different de ending on the status of the birdx. Mateed birds call their mares from a short distance away to the cleared platform, whereas unmated birds sky-point to any b: bird flying over the colony to attract them. If one bird flies over, as many as 6 or 7 birds may sky-call to it as it circles overhead. U. pt. - 4 Glaucus-winged gulls, 1 ad. Black-legged Kittiwakes. 27 Dec. We bagan blood work today and have worked out a reasonable system, carrying enough equipment for doing 24 1 birds. The work is complicated by the fact we are also doing weigts, measurements, and ectoparasites on the Laysans we are weighingx bleeding, so it takes many operations to complete one bird. We found one Laysan with an oozing sore on back, and the skin was eaten away exposing the bones of the pelvic region. Two birds were seen this way yesterday, one was killed as it was almost dead, one being able to look down into the insertio: of the humerous in the pelvic girdle. The whole looks gnagrenous and smells badly. We collected blood from the sick bird and collected it as a specimen for later auto- psy. After dayk we walked to south point and there caught a Glaucus-winged Gull, got a Mckbee card on him, collected reams of lice from the head just behind the eyes and kept him overnight. He regurgitaed a rat in the lab, and remains of another were later voided. He was weak and very light, having come in with the other 3 after the big storm. There are 5 Glaucus-winged Gulls now on the island (one was collected and skinned), and