King, Warren B. 1964 BCF Cruises 25 wind was only 14 knots. The first Fairy Tern of the cruise was seen 3/4 mile off. It maintained a position 25 feet or so above waters until it disappeared. A Noddy? flew over the deck of the ship but its rear was all I saw so I wasn't sure of the call. At 1145 came the first of eight possible Sooty Shearwaters. I called it a Christmas Island Shearwater (?) because of its flight pattern (lots of flaps, no high arcing scales, continually low over water, no real hurry to get anywhere) but in view of succeeding sightings it seems probable it was a Sooty Shear, although the underwing surface was not seen. At 1215 a Sooty Shear passed 250 off the bow, this time revealing its silver linings although it too flew low and unhurried, atypical except for one high arc after it passed the bow. At 1221 another more typical in flight, but not revealing its silver linings. Again the same 1345, 1758 two Sooty Shears, one of which showed its silver linings, the other was not seen by me, but watch assured me it was same species. At 1832 and at 1846 dark Shearwaters were seen in failing light corresponding to Sooties in flight and silhouette but couldn't even be sure of color. Two Red-tailed Tropicbirds for the day, both immatures with short central retrices. One of the "Harcourts S.P.'s" seemed to fly with greater strength, more petrel-like, less bat-like. The others were the usual bat-like, almost butterfly-like birds. The one with the stronger flight had very noticeable lighter patches or bars on the dorsal wing surface. It seemed larger too, almost Bonin Island size. At 1504 a large gull-like bird came up alongside the ship on the port side at about 25 feet up about 200 yards off. It was dark brown dorsally and lighter ventrally, with distinct white bars in the dorsal wing surface at the wrist. It was